"I went to work sick many times..."
"...many people are forced to come to work with the flu..."
"...devastating effects..."
read stories from real Ohioans and share your experiences...
Online DiaryWhat Can Happen When Real Ohioans Don’t Earn Paid Sick Days?
They go to work sick…
"I worked for the same company for 43 years and never earned a single paid sick day. I went to work sick many times, and I am sure I got my coworkers sick. I also lived 40 miles away from work, and had to drive even when I was sick. I went because I had a family that depended on me and I needed to make sure the bills got paid."
-Willis McNabb
Thornville, Ohio
"There are no sick days where I work. If you miss work you are penalized for 3 months plus it goes against you on your yearly review. Because of this, many people are forced to come to work with the flu or other illnesses."
-Karl Hilbert
Cadiz, Ohio
They don’t go to regular medical checkups…
"As a physician, I have seen the long term benefits of timely preventive services and treatment of acute conditions. I have also seen the devastating effects of delaying these measures. Delays result in increased health care costs and longer absences from work and school. A policy of paid sick days which includes care for dependents and preventive services is the best way to keep our economy moving along and ultimately reducing health care costs."
-Dr. Alice Faryna
Columbus, Ohio
They take care of ill patients when they are sick…
"I am an RN. We have paid time off where I work, but we are only able to actually call off 4 times a year without being written up. We would lose our job after 6 offs. This is horrible. We work with very sick children and contract all types of illness, but can't call off. We also are forced to work when ill, thus exposing our patients."
-Julianne Johnson
Columbus, Ohio
They send sick children to school…
"As a school teacher, I have seen the kids who come to school because their mothers cannot stay home with their children for fear of losing their jobs because they have no sick leave. Their presence endangers other students of catching the cold or infection. Soon, several are absent and the teachers also are exposed to the illness. Consequently, valuable teaching time is lost, often during the important winter months."
- Jim Bennett
Chillicothe, Ohio
Posted by SickDaysOhio.org on April 15, 2008
Comments
Posted by kathy at March 25, 2008 11:04 AM
I have gone to work sick, and by boss yells at me.
We have 2 incomes and we need them both. Its very hard to make ends meet, it would be nice if we have at least 3 sick days. That would be better than none at all.
Posted by Chad Sollmann at April 17, 2008 12:12 PM
I agree that the need for some type of measure to help those people who have to take off because they are sick or have children who are sick, but I am not sure that forcing companies to offer 7 paid sick days that rollover every year is the right path. This seems like another strike against getting new companies to open up in Ohio. Why did Honda and Nestle choose Indiana over Ohio last year to open new plants, 1000's of jobs. Wouldn't this new law increase the chances for companies to choose neighboring states over Ohio.