Paid Sick Days
Nearly 120,000 Alaskans work full-time jobs with no policy for a single day of paid sick leave. These men and women are forced to choose between a paycheck and their own health, or that of a family member when struck with an illness as simple as the common cold.
Low-wage workers are most affected by the lack of sick leave, so employees who handle our food and retail items, watch our children at daycare and care for our elders end up coming to work sick, or face consequences for missing work.
Every worker deserves the basic right to a day off when confronted with an illness. That’s why a number of cities and more than a dozen states have either passed or considered paid sick days legislation.
AKPIRG has worked with the National Partnership for Women and Families and the Public Welfare Foundation and helped spur the introduction of paid sick days legislation in 2008 and we continue to work toward this important goal.
Update! Paid Sick Days on The Move In the Alaska Legislature
Senate Bill 86, which would allow Alaskan workers to earn a modest paid sick leave policy is headed to the Senate Finance Commitee where we are awaiting a hearing. We will keep you posted on this important legislation.
