By Linn Grubbstrom - Talk Radio News Service
MomsRising, a grassroots advocacy group, assembled on Capitol Hill Wednesday to plead Congress support a Health Families Act that would increase the number of paid sick days workers in the private sector can earn.
Donna Norton is the Campaign Director for MomsRising and she said that their campaign is determined to raise awareness for the importance paid sick days have on the public’s health.
“Forty percent of American private sector workers have no paid sick days,” said Norton. “That means millions of parents are forced to go to work when they are sick or when their kids are sick.. and it’s a hazard for all of public health.”
Norton said organizations have begun movements pleading employers for paid sick days as well. According to Norton, MomsRising and other parents around the nation are not fighting for something impossible. This is evident in San Francisco, where an ordinance was passed mandating that employers guarantee a minimum number of paid sick days for their staff.
“We would like to have paid sick days guaranteed for all workers,” Norton said.