Civil Rights Groups Applaud Connecticut on Paid Sick Days Mandate

Confirm Tom Perez for U.S. Secretary of Labor

The Leadership Conference is working diligently to see that Tom Perez is confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Labor. Perez is an eminently qualified public servant and consensus builder who has dedicated his career to ensuring that all individuals are treated fairly and have the opportunity to succeed. He has served with integrity and distinction at the local, state and national level, compiling an outstanding record of achievement.

Learn More & Take Action

Civil Rights Groups Applaud Connecticut on Paid Sick Days Mandate

June 7, 2011 - Posted by Avril Lighty

In a victory for workers and labor advocates, the Connecticut legislature recently became the first in the nation to pass a statewide mandate for paid sick days.

Eighty percent of low-wage workers in the United States do not have any paid sick days, according to the National Partnership for Women & Families. S.B. 913 will require employers with fifty or more employees to provide paid sick leave when workers are ill or need to care for their families. With the implementation of this bill, workers in Connecticut will no longer have to decide between feeding their families and staying home from work due to illness.

“Connecticut should be proud of its legislature for providing paid sick days that recognize and respect the dignity of work,” said Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. “This groundbreaking legislation stands for the fundamental principle that no worker should ever be penalized for becoming ill or needing time off to care for a sick family member. The civil and human rights community hopes that other states – including those engaged in destructive efforts to eliminate workers’ rights that helped to build a strong middle class – will take note and follow suit.”

The Leadership Conference is a member of the National Paid Sick Days Coalition and supports the passage of the Healthy Families Act. The Healthy Families Act is federal legislation that would enable all workers in the United States to earn up to seven paid sick days a year.