No worker should have to risk a paycheck or their job to care for a sick family member or bond with a newborn child.
Unfortunately there are thousands of workers who face this pressing challenge every day. That's because nearly half of North Carolina's private-sector workers, 1.4 million people, lack a single paid sick day. In the South Atlantic region, just 11% of private sector workers have access to paid family and medical leave.
North Carolina is a state that prides itself on
family values. When you work hard, you should be able to care for your
family. But without paid sick days and access to real family and medical leave, too many workers are struggling to care for their families and build economic security.
Guaranteeing our
workers a modest number of paid sick days is one way to help folks
balance the competing demands of work and family and the NC Healthy Families and Healthy Workplaces Act does just that. Exploring a state-based Family Leave Insurance program like California and New Jersey have adopted is another critical way to make real the promise of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act. It’s time that our
workplace policies caught up with the realities facing families today.
That’s
why a broad coalition of organizations has come together to form the
NC Families Care Campaign, which is pushing for policy solutions such as paid sick days and expansions to the Family Medical Leave Act. But we need your help.
Check out our comprehensive work-family report -want to read a blueprint for making North Carolina's 20th Century workplace policies match our 21st Century workforce? Then check out our vision-setting new report here. Know Your Rights trainings across the state-since October, we've been travelling around the state to present Know Your Rights' trainings for workers. We've been to the mountains to the sea building support for family-friendly workplace policies. Want us to come to you? Contact us by email.
Seattle City Council passes paid sick days ordinance-in continuing the momentum after Connecticut passed the first state paid sick days law this summer, Seattle became the latest city to guarantee all workers paid sick days. Find out more here.
Tell us your stories: We’re collecting stories from people across the state about their experiences juggling caregiving and work. Share your experience—good, bad, or ugly.
