WASHINGTON, DC- Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy issued the following
statement on the launch of the online rally for paid sick days at EverybodyGetsSick.org.
“To help stem the alarming outbreak of flu, health officials are urging sick workers to
stay home from their jobs and sick children to stay home from school. But for millions of
Americans, staying home is not an option. For half of all private sector workers, taking a
day off because of illness means losing their pay or even losing their job. They’re forced
to stay at work, risking their own health and potentially infecting others. I commend
these men and women for sharing their stories online. If Congress pays enough attention,
we’ll be able to pass the Healthy Families Act and require employers to grand seven days
of paid sick leave a year for hardworking Americans to deal with their emergencies. We
can help families and protect the public health at the same time."
