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No sick days? No thank you

Posted by: Kate Blocher on Dec 22, 2009

The Senate is moving quickly and is set to pass their historic health reform bill. This marks a significant point in the health reform movement, moving us one step closer to achieving affordable, quality health coverage for all. The passage of comprehensive health reform legislation will dramatically improve millions of American's lives and bringing much needed relief and peace of mind.

But imagine if, despite having health coverage, you were still not allowed to take a day off work due to an illness or due to the illness of a child? This is the reality many people face, and it can be just as devastating as being uninsured.

Millions of Walmart employees face this reality daily due to their unfair sick days policy. According to a report released by the National Labor Committee, Walmart makes it incredibly difficult for its employees to take sick time for themselves or their children. They must take a personal day or a paid vacation day for their first sick day or risk losing a day of pay. And in addition to this, they get penalized each time they are out sick with a "demerit." If they accrue more than four demerits in a six-month period, they risk serious disciplinary action, even termination.

Walmart's sick days policy, and in particular its demerit policy, is unconscionable. Robert Field, professor of health management and policy at the Drexel University School of Public Health in Philadelphia believes,

Walmart is creating a public health threat by encouraging workers to come to work [sick]

We think he couldn't be more correct. When employees or their children are sick, they need to stay home to recover, not only for their well-being, but also to ensure that they don't infect others. By penalizing their employees for missing work due to an unexpected illness, Walmart is forcing sick employees to expose other employees-AND the general public-to infection.

Sadly, with the downturn in the economy, many of Walmart's employees have no choice but to stay and suffer under their unfair policies, hoping they or their family members don't get sick. But we as a community of health care activists can speak out for them. Mom's Rising has decided to turn the tables on Walmart and give the company demerits for its unhealthy and unjust sick days policy, and you can get in on the act too:

Just click here to participate: http://www.demeritwalmart.com/index.html

Everyone gets sick, but not everyone has time to see a doctor and get better. In fact, 57 million U.S. workers do not have a single paid sick day to care for themselves when they are ill, and nearly 100 million workers do not have paid sick days to care for their children. Legislation has been introduced in the House and the Senate that would address this problem. The Healthy Families Act (HR 2460/S 1152) would enable workers to earn up to seven paid sick days a year to recover from short-term illness, to care for a sick family member, for routine medical care or to seek assistance related to domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking. The Administration has already put its support behind this legislation.

Walmart won't change its policies until the public outcry is too loud to drown out. We've worked so hard to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable, quality health coverage, but what is it worth if giant corporations like Walmart won't even allow their employees the time off to go and see their doctor? Please take a moment to let Walmart know it's time to change.