Dear  ,

MPHA is excited to share our endorsement of the Emergency Paid Sick Time bill, sponsored this week by Rep. Paul Donato and Sen. Jason Lewis, and spearheaded by our partner Raise Up Massachusetts . This critical legislation would provide ten additional work days (80 hours) of job-protected paid sick time for immediate use during the COVID-19 outbreak. Please take action now, by contacting your elected representatives and asking them to become a cosponsor.

We must pass this legislation now, because low-wage workers - such as long-term care workers, janitorial workers, food service workers, bus drivers, and grocery store clerks - are providing essential services during the COVID-19 epidemic, but many lack access to adequate paid sick time. That is why MPHA's Task Force on Coronavirus & Equity has made passing paid sick time legislation one of its top  policy recommendations.

This Emergency Paid Sick Time bill would cover employees not included in the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)'s paid sick time provisions, including:
  • Employees working for a private employer with more than 500 employees; and
  • Employees working at health care or residential facilities that have the option to exempt themselves from the FFCRA.
Workers taking Emergency Paid Sick Time would be paid by their employers at their regular rate of pay, up to a maximum of $850/week. Employers would then be fully reimbursed by the state.

Emergency Paid Sick Time would be available, with no waiting period, for workers to care for themselves or a family member if they are diagnosed with COVID-19, experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and awaiting a diagnosis, or reasonably believe their health is at risk.

Massachusetts needs to pass Emergency Paid Sick Time legislation to ensure that all workers can take paid sick time during this crisis! Please raise your voice in support of health equity by contacting your elected representatives today! After you have taken action, let us know by emailing Andrea Freeman at afreeman@mapublichealth.org.

With gratitude for all you do,
 
Carlene Pavlos
Executive Director
Massachusetts Public Health Association | (857) 263-7072 | mpha@mapublichealth.org |   mapublichealth.org
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