Jack, here's the good news: According to a new report from the Economic Policy Institute, 78% of private sector workers now have paid sick days, a big increase from 2010 when it was 63%.

But the bad news is that a whopping 61% of low-wage workers, who are often parents and caregivers, lack paid sick days. And the really bad news is that COVID-19 has made the problem a lot bigger.

Sign the petition: Make sick leave accessible for everyone.

SIGN THE PETITION
Workers without paid sick leave often face heartbreaking decisions—like choosing between showing up to work unwell or missing a day's pay that could go toward rent, groceries, or essential bills. This is a crisis affecting the vulnerable—single parents, people with disabilities, and those living paycheck to paycheck.

Thanks in large part to union and activist efforts, 15 states and the District of Columbia have passed sick leave laws in the past decade—nearly doubling the proportion of low-wage workers with paid sick days from 20% to 39%.

Cities and states with paid sick leave have lower illness rates and provide economic security for workers. Yet, access varies widely across states and income levels. It's time for a federal policy that makes paid sick days a permanent benefit for all workers, regardless of where they live or work.

Sign the petition: Make sick leave accessible for everyone.

SIGN THE PETITION
Keep fighting,
Monique Teal, Daily Kos