As cases of the novel coronavirus spread, millions of workers’ lack of paid sick leave is becoming a serious concern for local officials and employers — and now an increasingly urgent agenda item in Washington, too.
Why it matters: Front-line workers who serve food, drive buses, care for children or the elderly and run cash registers are much less likely to be able to take time off if they are sick, increasing the risk of infecting others…
…”The reason they close schools is because the kids can get sick, and they can also carry the virus to family members — grandparents, aunts and uncles,” said CityHealth President Shelley Hearne. “If you have kids staying home and parents aren’t able to stay home with them, that’s what fosters a pandemic.”
