As the number of cases of COVID-19 continues to climb here in New Jersey and across the country, public health experts are making it abundantly clear: every day that passes without decisive action from the federal government makes this virus more dangerous to us all, and especially to the most vulnerable.
There’s so much work to do, but one of the most overlooked tools available to us to aid in slowing the spread of this disease is guaranteeing paid sick and family leave for workers. Congress must act, and quickly.
We know we all have a role to play in fighting this virus and protecting each other — and that includes regularly washing our hands, practicing social distancing, avoiding crowds as much as possible and staying home from work or school if we feel sick.
Here in New Jersey, we have some of the strongest paid family and sick leave protections in the country, but America’s failure to do the same at the federal level means that for millions of Americans, staying home when you’re sick is simply not an option.
We are the only wealthy nation in the world that doesn’t guarantee paid sick and family leave for workers — a shameful distinction that punishes low-income working Americans, and harms our society as a whole, especially during times like these.
Early Saturday, the House of Representative passed legislation that, in addition to providing much needed resources toward combating the spread of the virus and increasing testing capabilities, would make 14 days of paid sick leave and up to three months of paid family leave immediately available for many workers during this public health emergency. Now it is time for the Senate to act.
Without these protections, the choice for millions of families in America could be an impossible one. A choice between your next paycheck and caring for your sick child, between going in to work sick and having to skip a meal, between your health and well-being and that of your community or your family’s financial security.
Low-income people and people of color disproportionately lack access to paid sick and family leave policies and already face disparities in access to preventative care, health care, and affordable prescription drugs. Public health emergencies that force low-income workers to miss a paycheck can quickly become economic disasters for those who are already struggling. The broader public’s health also suffers because many workers choose not to stay home when they’re sick.
According to the National Partnership for Women and Families, 70% of the lowest-income workers do not have a single paid sick day, and 81% of people working in the food service industry and 75% of child care center workers do not have access to paid sick days.
As we work together to combat the spread of this virus we need to remember that we are only as healthy as our most vulnerable neighbors. To take on this virus, protect all of our communities and protect our economy, we need to take a comprehensive and inclusive approach that doesn’t leave anyone behind. This crisis demands urgent, decisive action from all of us, but especially from our leaders in Congress and the White House. The time to act is now.
U.S. Sen. Cory Booker has served in the Senate since 2013. He is also the former mayor of Newark.
By Star-Ledger Guest Columnist
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