Paid Sick Days Save Lives

On January 12, 2021, the Ontario government announced a second State of Emergency and instituted a stay-at-home policy. A growing chorus of advocates, experts, and workers responded by pointing out a glaring omission: the Ford Conservatives failed to institute paid sick days for all workers.

With workplace transmissions making up a bulk of the rise in COVID-19 cases, a growing consensus is saying that workers – primarily low-wage, front-line workers – are less likely to stay home when sick if they aren’t ensured an income to pay for groceries, rent, and other essentials.

Workers needed paid sick days before this crisis. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, paid sick days are more necessary than ever.

Dear Premier Doug Ford,

With workplace transmissions making up a bulk of the rise in COVID-19 cases, there’s a growing consensus that ensuring paid sick days for all workers is absolutely necessary to slow the spread.

Front-line workers have been put in the impossible position of having to choose between paycheque and the health and safety of themselves and others. We can’t allow that any longer.

If a worker is sick, they should be able to stay at home – and they should be supported in doing so.

Far too many people won’t stay at home when they are feeling sick because they won’t be able to pay for food, rent, and other essentials if they do so.

Healthcare professionals, front-line workers, mayors, and politicians of all stripes, including former leaders of your Conservative Party, have called for your government to institute paid sick days immediately. Medical Officers of Health have specifically called for a minimum of 10 paid sick days for workers.

It’s time to listen to the experts. It’s time to stop the deaths and the unnecessary infections.

Workers needed paid sick days before this crisis. But now, more than ever, all Ontarians need access to paid sick leave if we are going to prevent more deaths from COVID-19.

Sincerely,

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