Being penalized or fired for calling in sick sounds like something that only happens in infamous sweatshop-like toy companies inChina. But shockingly it happens in the supposedly democratic West too. Just last year one of the biggest online shopping agencies made headlines when it was revealed that the company forced their packing staff to work seven days a week and threatened them with dismissal if they took time off for being sick.   

More than 145 countries provide some form of paid sick leave with 127 (includingIsrael) providing a week or more annually and 98 (including theUK) paying for over a month. TheUS however is the only one of 22 highly developed nations that does not provide any form of paid sick leave.

In the private sector 40 percent of workers have no paid sick leave. Among low-income earners two thirds have no paid sick leave and inNew York Cityalone 50 percent of workers — 1 580 000 people — don’t get paid if they’re sick. Across the nation that translates to a massive 44 million workers.

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 does guarantee certain eligible workers’ jobs if they have to take sick leave but it doesn’t require employers to pay workers during that time. Some jurisdictions in theUShave passed and put into practice paid sick leave laws — namelySan FranciscoConnecticut WashingtonDC andSeattle. There are also bills pending in other states such asMassachusettsandCalifornia. InNew York City the majority of council members support a proposed city law to provide paid sick leave but it won’t be brought to vote until the economy gets stronger — which could take a while.

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