WASHINGTON, March 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A cross-sector group of 55 public health, health, labor, business and social policy organizations are jointly calling on the Trump Administration and Congress to pass and quickly implement a federal paid sick leave law that provides 14 days of such leave to all workers, available immediately upon declaration of a public health emergency. Fourteen days aligns with the currently recommended quarantine period for COVID-19. Furthermore, and beyond the COVID-19 response, the coalition recommends that the new law require all employers, regardless of their size, to allow workers to earn up to seven days of paid sick leave for use when they or a family member is ill or for preventative care.  

The group is also proposing tax relief or interest free loans to be made available for small businesses that provide sick leave benefits during a public health emergency and that employees be allowed to take leave if schools or places of employment close due to a public health emergency. Furthermore, employees should be allowed to use leave to care for family members and should be protected from job loss or any other forms of reprisal if they comply with public health or medical advice to stay home.

Multiple health studies have found that the absence of paid sick leave has been linked to or has exacerbated infectious disease outbreaks in the past. In dealing with the current novel coronavirus, the experience of other countries indicates that aggressive social distancing measures can help slow the spread of the virus. Yet for the 34 million individuals who do not have access to paid sick leave, staying at home may not be a realistic option. Many individuals without paid sick time earn low wages, and a disproportionate percentage work in the service industry. Just 30 percent of low-wage workers in the private sector have access to paid sick leave, compared to 93 percent of higher-wage workers.

"Everyone has a role to play in managing the COVID-19 outbreak. Immediate passage and fast implementation of a national paid sick leave law will allow all workers to follow the directions of their communities' public health officials. It is critical to mitigation efforts that people be able to stay home from work if they are sick or if they may have been exposed to the virus without facing the impossible choice of their health or their financial stability," said John Auerbach, President and CEO of Trust for America's Health.

A letter outlining the recommended policy actions was delivered today to Vice President Mike Pence, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, (R-KY), Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, (D-NY), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, (D-CA), and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).

Organizations signing-on to the letter were:

American Lung Association

American Medical Student Association

American Public Health Association

American School Health Association

American Sexual Health Association

American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Antibiotic Resistance Action Center, George Washington University

Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum

Association for Prevention Teaching and Research

Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology

Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs

Association of Public Health Laboratories

Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health

Center for Global Health Science and Security Georgetown University

Center for Public Policy Priorities

Center for Science in the Public Interest

Children's Environmental Health Network

Clean Habitat Inc

Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials

Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists

Florida Institute for Health Innovation

Georgetown University Center for Global Health Science and Security

Green & Healthy Homes Initiative

Health Resources in Action

HIV Medicine Association

Immunize Nevada

Infectious Diseases Society of America

Liver Health Initiative

March of Dimes

National Association of County and City Health Officials

National Association of School Nurses

National Coalition of STD Directors

National Council of Jewish Women

National Fragile X Foundation

National Health Care for the Homeless Council

National Network of Public Health Institutes

National Organization for Women

NERDS RULE INC

NW Unangax Culture

NYU School of Global Public Health

PATH

Peggy Lillis Foundation

People's Action

Prevention Institute

Public Health Institute

Public Health Solutions

Rollins School of Public Health

Safe States Alliance

Shriver Center on Poverty Law

Society for Public Health Education

Sumner M Redstone Global Center for Prevention and Wellness

Trust for America's Health

Washington State Department of Health

Washington State Public Health Association

Women's Law Project

Trust for America's Health is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that promotes optimal health for every person and community and makes the prevention of illness and injury a national priority.  www.tfah.org. Twitter: @healthyamerica1

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SOURCE Trust for America's Health