Citing the lack of paid sick days for workers, and the associated costs of sick workers showing up for work, Senator Tom Harkin (D–Iowa) and Representative Rosa DeLauro (D–Connecticut) on March 20, 2013 reintroduced the Healthy Families Act (Sen. 631 and H.R. 1286). The bill would allow workers to accumulate up to 56 hours of paid sick time to be used when they or family members were ill. The bill was first introduced in 2004.
Affecting employers with more than 15 employees and public agencies, the bill would allow each employee to earn at least one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to a total of 56 hours. The employer can, of course, set a higher limit if it so chooses. While an employee begins to accrue sick time once his or her employment begins, he or she cannot use that time until after 60 days of employment. Unused leave would roll over year to year up to the 56 hour limit.
An employee may use paid sick leave for the following:
– physical or mental injury or illness;
– doctors’ appointments;
– caring for a family member or partner; or
– seeking medical attention to recover from domestic violence, or to relocate or take legal action if it is related to domestic violence.
Of course, the bill contains anti-retaliation and notice provisions. The text of the bill and background information can be found here: http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/631/related-bills.