Understanding Mandatory Paid Sick Leave

Please see the link below for an opposing view to mandatory paid sick leave.

I fully SUPPORT a law making mandatory sick leave.  If you have an elderly  parent in Florida you understand the dangers when a home attendant or visiting nurse is assisting them and they have a communicable illness like a cold or the flu or worse.  Just recently the attendant assisting my mom and my aunt had a cold and within a week my aunt had a cold and my mother now has one.  Granted, you cannot assume the cold came from the helper, but when the sick person is not only in close proximity of a senior, but they are preparing meals, washing dishes, etc, and the elderly party does not go out often or receive visitors, you can probably trace when and how they got sick.

I don't blame the worker.  Home attendants make a horribly low salary and according to the ones I spoke to , they have no health benefits.  They so only  get paid for the days they actually work, meaning if they have a cold or feel the flu come around, because they have rent and bills to pay they are more than likely going to go to work and expose your elderly loved one to something which could potentially kill them.  For that reason alone I feel there should be mandatory paid sick leave, especially for health care workers on all levels and employees who have to be around others.

Yeah, this means someone will try to get over and stay home while not being ill.  I personally doubt the numbers would be that high, but to combat this misuse of time, employers can simply  set up a system where a doctor's note can be provided.  Something can be worked out. 

In any case if you have elderly loved ones or family members who are vulnerable to illness you should pay close attention to this debate.


Understanding Mandatory Paid Sick Leave