Are you sick?

At some point in life, you may get sick and may be unable to function at the workplace.  However, there’s currently no federal law that provides employees with paid sick days.  Some companies voluntarily offer paid sick leave as a part of their benefits packages, but there are a great amount of others who don’t.

A vast majority of low-income workers don’t even have any sick leave to call in.  As a result, people are being forced to choose between staying home to care for a sick child or getting a paycheck. 

Congress has started hearings on the issue.  The Healthy Families Act was introduced as Senate Bill S.932 in April 2005.  If the Act becomes a federal law, employers will have to offer 7 days of paid sick leave annually for employees working 30 or more hours per week or a pro-rated number of days or hours of paid sick leave annually for employees working less than 30 hours per week or 1,500 hours per year involved with that employer.

Those employees that do have paid sick leave, more than likely take advantage of that time.  Taking sick leave time off, that is if you’re really sick, can prevent the whole office from being contaminated and contribute to a more healthy work environment. 

If you call in sick and you’re not medically sick, a day away from work can provide relief from mental stress.  Just don’t abuse the system.  Choose your days wisely.

Sometimes we all need a day off.  If you have paid sick days to use, why not use them?

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Credits: www.humanresources.about.com  Photo: www.theage.com.au