Statement
Connecticut Becomes Shining Example For the Nation on Paid Sick Days
June 4, 2011
Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996
STATEMENT OF Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director, MomsRising, on the Connecticut General Assembly’s Passage of An Act Mandating Employers Provide Paid Sick Leave to Employees
“We enthusiastically applaud the Connecticut General Assembly for passing An Act Mandating Employers Provide Paid Sick Leave to Employees late last night. Coupled with the state Senate action last week, Connecticut will now become the first state to require employers to provide their workers with paid sick days. This family-friendly policy is not only good for working families; it’s good for the state’s health and its economy. Now fewer people will get the flu with their hamburgers – and more moms and dads will be able to take care of themselves (and their children) when they get sick, without losing needed pay or even their jobs.
Connecticut should serve as an example to the rest of the nation. Passage by both chambers of the state legislature shows growing momentum to address the needs of all families in our nation. Everyone gets sick, but not everyone has a chance to get better. No parent should ever have to choose between caring for a seriously ill child or for themselves, and a paycheck or a job. Paid sick days are a logical, fair policy that everyone deserves.
We applaud Governor Malloy for his unwavering commitment to paid sick days and look forward to him signing the legislation into law. MomsRising is proud to have been part of the effort to achieve this important goal. Earlier this year, two of our members testified before the Connecticut General Assembly Joint Labor and Employment Committee about the importance of paid sick days to moms and families. Our members have delivered thousands of messages and personal stories to legislators, encouraging them to pass paid sick days legislation. We’re glad their voices were heard.
We thank every Connecticut legislator who voted for this bill which will help Connecticut families, as well as the Connecticut Working Families Organization, the Everybody Benefits coalition, and other allies for their extraordinary work to pass this historic legislation.
In light of this victory for working families, we hope other states will follow. We hear from our members every day about the struggles they face without this basic workplace flexibility. The momentum for paid sick days legislation is growing, and MomsRising will fight for this policy in every state. We ALL get sick. When we’re worried about our kids’ health or our own health, we shouldn’t also have to worry if we can pay the rent or if we’ll still have a job when we get better.”