Friday May 22, 2009, 7:15 pm
Support the Healthy Families Act for Public Health & Economic Stability

The Centers for Disease Control are giving good advice to stay home if you're sick, but, unfortunately, nearly half of private sector workers in the United States don't have a single paid sick day. For them, staying home means losing pay and, perhaps, losing their job. In this economy, that's a terrible choice to have to make.

Without paid sick days options, many people will feel the economic pressure to go to work even while sick. This means not only that they can’t care for themselves or their family, it also means that they may transmit the virus to co-workers, customers, or other members of the public.

Tell your Congressperson and U.S. Senators to co-sponsor the Healthy Families Act, and work to pass it into law without delay, today!

Dear Representative,

As a voter and one of your constituents, I am writing today to inform you of an important measure you can take immediately to help prevent the spread of illnesses like the Swine Flu while helping families struggling in this economy: Support the Healthy Families Act.

Here's why: The Centers for Disease Control say that, to prevent the spread of Swine Flu, people should: "Stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them."

This recommendation presents a problem for many Americans. Today, nearly 1/2 of working people aren't allowed to earn a single paid sick day. Without paid sick days options, many people will feel the economic pressure to go to work even while sick. This means not only that they can’t care for themselves or their family, it also means that they may transmit the virus to co-workers, customers, or other members of the public.

In fact, one in six workers report that they or a family member have been fired, suspended, punished, or threatened with being fired for taking time off because of illness or to care for a sick relative, according to a 2008 University of Chicago survey.

Please sign on as a cosponsor of the Healthy Families Act, and work to pass this critical legislation as soon as possible. The lack of paid sick days is a major public health concern that we can address with this simple legislation.

Regards,

[Your Name]

Friday May 22, 2009, 7:24 pm


Thnx Tom!!

Friday May 22, 2009, 7:59 pm
Signed,#130 and noted with thanks Tom.

Let's reach our goal of 500 signatures!

Saturday May 23, 2009, 3:29 am
134 and counting Thank you for signing the petition "Tell Congress to pass the Healthy Families Act"

Here in Australia, unless otherwise agreed upon between employer and employee, all full time employees are entitled to 4 weeks holiday pay and around 10 - 15 sick days

Saturday May 23, 2009, 5:23 am
Signed & noted - thanks, Tom !

Saturday May 23, 2009, 5:37 am
Signed Thanks Tom

Saturday May 23, 2009, 5:43 am
signed

Saturday May 23, 2009, 6:29 am
sisned andnoted tom thank you

Saturday May 23, 2009, 6:33 am
Noted. Can not sign change.org petitions. Thank you.

Saturday May 23, 2009, 8:55 am
Pleased to note and sign; "Thank you for signing the petition "Tell Congress to pass the Healthy Families Act." Thank you, Tom!

Saturday May 23, 2009, 11:13 am
Thank you for signing the petition "Tell Congress to pass the Healthy Families Act" , gladly signed, thanks Tom

Saturday May 23, 2009, 11:39 am
noted & signed already.

Saturday May 23, 2009, 11:49 am
Thank you for signing the petition "Tell Congress to pass the Healthy Families Act"
Thanks Tom

Saturday May 23, 2009, 1:42 pm
noted & signer #159

Saturday May 23, 2009, 2:02 pm
A Congress that can't pull itself away from the tit of lobbies is not something I feel I can count on to the right thing in much of any area. This is not just about sick days -- it is about the spread of potential pandemic viruses. We shouldn't have to ask for them to do the right thing it should be upper most on their agendas, but of course it is not. This country really is in a deplorable state when you consider the number petitions we sign and the response we receive from our representatives, no matter the party the form letters are all basically the same. "Thank you for you concern I will keep your thoughts in mind" sure they will *wink* you betcha.

Sunday May 24, 2009, 7:40 am
Yes, Kit, the fact that there are so many petitions to sign, shows our country is in trouble. Why should we even have to have petitions to get the rights we are entitled to in the first place? Why do we have to fight for our rights? For Animal's rights? For saving our Oceans? For saving our Wildlife? For Clean Air? For a safe World? For saving our Planet? Petitions should not even be necessary, Humans are failing our Earth, it is so obvious. When our Planet is destroyed, where will we live?

Sunday May 24, 2009, 7:43 am
DONE

Sunday May 24, 2009, 5:07 pm
Done Tx Tom

Monday May 25, 2009, 3:13 pm
The petition site doesn't explain who pays for the sick days? I assume it would be the company. If so this will be a big problem for many small businesses where most US workers are employed. Ultimately the employees will end up paying this anyway because many small businesses will have no choice but to reduce pay to fund it. In my small business (28 employees) my partner and I have not been able to pay ourselves since Feb. 1, but so far we have not laid off a single employee or cut anyone else's wages. But my wife and I have had to start living off our meager savings which will soon be exhausted without a business improvement. The only way we could pay for this is by cutting wages, which I guess we could do since our average employee makes $16 per hour - well above minimum wage. Still I don't see how that helps anyone. Small businesses aren't sitting on pots of gold.

Tuesday May 26, 2009, 11:16 am
Noted & signed. Thanks