Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy joined Albany County legislators, community groups, and local workers at a rally and press conference on Monday in support of paid sick day legislation. The paid sick day bill, as planned, was introduced later that evening at the County Legislature meeting.
Without the protection of paid sick days, thousands of workers in Albany County have to decide between their health and their economic security. This forces many working people, who are already living paycheck-to-paycheck, to go to work sick, putting their coworkers, customers, and community at greater risk of illness.
A study by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) found that an estimated 40% of workers living in Albany County lacked even a single paid sick day. Working while sick increases the risk of injury and promotes the spread of illness. This can be especially dangerous in restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes, and other occupations with regular customer interaction.
“We are pleased and encouraged to see the introduction of the local law submitted by my office to the County Legislature on February 14, 2018,” said Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy. “The lack of paid sick leave affects people’s ability to care for their children and adequately care for themselves. Even more importantly the lack of access to this type of leave makes our citizens more vulnerable to the spread of sickness as many people choose to work sick instead of taking a day and forgoing necessary income. We applaud its consideration in the Legislature and look forward to engaging in an informed conversations about its merits.”
“I am very happy to be working in partnership with our County Executive and the many organizations that have brought this legislation to Albany County,” said Alison McLean Lane, Albany County Legislator and bill sponsor. “Not only is this an issue of fairness, it is an issue of public health. The largest percent of workers without sick leave in Albany County are working in the service industry, including retail sales, child care, and food service. These are the individuals that interact with the general public on a daily basis. As we move forward with this process, I look forward to hearing from the general public at the public hearing and the many other meetings we will have reviewing this policy, to collect their input before a vote is taken on this legislation.”
“The loss of even a single day’s earnings can be difficult for working families to manage. For many, staying home sick could mean the permanent loss of a job and a downward spiral into deep poverty,” said Blue Carreker, Campaign Manager for Citizen Action of New York. “No one can predict how or when they’ll get sick–or when a family member will get sick. Paid sick days give workers peace of mind and ensure that a sudden illness won’t cost them their job.”
“Back in October, I had strep throat. I couldn’t afford to take time off, since I have to provide for my family. Strep throat turned into bronchitis and a double ear infection. I was sick for over a month and still had to work the whole time,” said Julie VanLeuven, a manager at Dunkin’ Donuts. “My family would greatly benefit from having guaranteed paid sick days. It would mean I could take time to care for myself or my children and still be able to survive.”
“When children are sick, a parent should not be forced to choose between caring for them or losing their wages. As a teacher, I’ve had children in my class who needed multiple visits to the doctor to monitor for diabetes, ADHD, allergies; ear infections that when gone untreated can and do lead to hearing loss; eye problems that led to headaches because their parent couldn’t get time off to go to an optometrist for eyeglasses,” said Agnes Zellin, Teacher.
“As medical professionals, we are also dedicated to promoting early detection and treatment of illness and injury; to reducing the spread of disease, and to protecting the public health. For all these reasons, we support paid sick days legislation in Albany County,” said Corey Ellis of the New York State Nurses Association.
“The ability to take paid sick days is especially important for workers with close contact with the public or other people, and for those who are engaged in hazardous work including operating heavy machinery. Workers who work long hours, with irregular schedules and overtime shifts, are already vulnerable to experiencing fatigue, which combined with illness can result in workplace errors, accidents, and occupational injuries,” said Rossana Coto-Batres, Education and Training Coordinator for the Northeast NY Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health.
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