Paid Sick Leave: A National Priority
Image from Franz Heinrich Corinth on his Sick Bed, by Lovis Corinth, 1888.
The rights of workers have long been a bedrock social justice concern and a priority of American Jews. With strong Jewish leadership, major achievements such as the minimum wage, the forty hour work week, the abolition of child labor, and family and medical leave have enhanced the quality of life for millions over successive generations.
This commitment is inspired by Jewish tradition that speaks strongly to valuing workers' dignity as well as maintaining healthy families. We are taught in the Torah, "You shall not abuse a needy and destitute laborer, whether a fellow Israelite or a stranger in one of the communities of your land. You must pay out the wages due on the same day, before the sun sets, for the worker is needy and urgently depends on it; else a cry to the Eternal will be issued against you and you will incur guilt." (Deut. 24:14-15).
The landmark 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act recognized the familial needs that tug at every worker. But neither this nor any other federal law requires employers to continue to pay workers during their family or medical leave. By supporting paid sick leave we hope to ensure that no one must choose between their health or the health of a family member and their financial security.
The United States lags far behind the rest of the world when it comes to paid sick leave, with only four states, 19 cities, and one county currently requiring it. Meanwhile, 163 nations already guarantee paid sick leave, including Canada, Israel, and nearly every country in Europe. Of the European countries that guarantee paid sick leave, all guarantee more than 11 days.
Our most recent issue paper, Paid Sick Leave: A National Priority, is online - for a printable copy, just click here.