Nancy Pelosi Calls For Federal Paid Sick Leave Legislation
By Travis Waldron
Marking the 20th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act in Boston yesterday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) called for federal legislation that would allow workers to earn paid sick leave each year. The FMLA allows workers unpaid leave to care for family members or newborn children, but Pelosi said she wanted legislation that would require workers to earn up to seven paid sick days each year, the Associated Press reports:
Pelosi said federal laws should guarantee that workers can earn paid time off.
“It’s not just about women, it’s about families,” Pelosi said Monday. “Many men take advantage of the Family and Medical Leave Act.”
Three million Americans missed work because of illness in February, and many of them likely did so without leave. 40 percent of private sector workers and 80 percent of low-income workers do not receive paid sick days, increasing the spread of costly illnesses and driving down productivity in a way that hurts both businesses and the overall economy. Nearly 80 percent of America’s food workers receive no paid sick leave.
Massachusetts state lawmakers are pushing a proposal to give workers one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked. Passing paid sick leave into law would make it just the second state to require paid sick days. Portland joined Seattle, Washington DC, and San Francisco as the fourth American city to require paid sick leave earlier this month. Philadelphia also approved a paid sick leave provision this month, though it is likely to veto it for a second time.
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http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/03/26/1777431/pelosi-paid-sick-leave/
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Absences due to menstrual cramps.
I suffered every single month, 13 times a year, from age 12 to 56. That's a lot of years. I also felt like a dishrag with no energy, besides the 2 to 4 days of disabling pain.
I know that some women don't feel disabled from their periods, but I did. I had various treatments and I heard more than once "This will cure your cramps." Those statements were all lies.
My ex-husband's attorney once deposed me for TWO HOURS on this very subject: Why I didn't have a job although I had an excellent education, and was looking. He was fighting me over child custody and my payment of child support to him.
I told him that I did not know of a job with one day off each week of the year which is what 13 x 4 would be=52 days a year.
He stared at me like he knew nothing about females and menstrual cycles, even though he was married and had at least one daughter. That was the most embarrassing experience I've ever been through.
If we were enlightened, we'd have sick leave for a periodic but repeating disability.
And that isn't even dealing with disabilities of pregnancy and childbirth. I lost six months from work before and after childbirth due to being as big as a beached whale.
