Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is co-sponsoring a bill that would require employers to provide additional paid sick leave during a public health emergency like coronavirus. Gillibrand says the proposed Paid Sick Days for Public Health Emergencies and Personal Family Care Act builds upon current legislation to require paid sick leave coverage for all employees and would expand qualifying events to include the effects of a public health emergency — like school and employer closings, quarantine, and family care. This legislation will address the current crisis and ensure paid sick leave is provided in the future.
"More than 32 million workers in the United States have no paid sick leave. Providing adequate paid sick leave for employees is a vital step in containing and preparing the country for public health emergencies like the coronavirus outbreak," lsays Gillibrand. "The legislation will ease provisions that need doctor certification for time off. This will not only address our public health crisis because of COVID-19, but will ensure sick time for all employees in the future."
Gillibrand adds the economy will improve more quickly. "Allowing sick people to stay home, allowing people to come back when they're better, allowing schools to reopen, and allowing people to travel again is the quickest way to get our economy back on track, by far," believes Gillibrand.