Stop the spread of COVID-19: Paid Sick Leave

BY TVISHA MISTRY

“It’s becoming clear that we really need to hear from the people that are sick with COVID, instead of people who are sick of COVID.” Dr. Lawrence Loh, Medical Officer of Health, Peel Public Health.

With our province reopening and changing seasons, COVID-19 cases are predicted to rise. To stop the spread we must do everything in our power, including staying home from work when we feel sick.

But did you know that only 40% of Ontario workers have paid sick days. This means that 60% of Ontarians have to choose between staying home sick and putting food on the table. A recent survey conducted by Peel Public Health revealed that 800 people from a pool of 1,000 that tested positive, had gone to work, after their COVID-19 assessment; largely because they could not afford to renounce even a day’s worth of pay if the test came back positive.

Often, we hear the government talking about thanking essential workers, but what about supporting them?

If we truly want to stop the spread, individuals need to be able to stay home as soon as they feel symptoms without the fear of them losing income. The “Stay At home when you’re sick act”, also known as Peggy’s Bill was originally introduced by NDP affiliate, MPP Peggy Sattler in December 2020. If passed, Bill 239 would protect workers, guaranteeing ten personal emergency leaves; seven of which would be paid.

“With COVID-19 case counts now approaching 2,000 a day, it is all too clear how dangerous it is when workers must lose their pay to stay home when they are sick” commented Peggy Sattler.

“Doug Ford has repeatedly said ‘if you’re sick, stay home.’ It’s time the Ford government permanently cement that direction into legislation. We are calling on the Ford government to do more to protect workers and their communities,” said Ontario Federation of Labour President Patty Coates. “Workers across Ontario need legislated paid sick leave, so they don’t have to choose between going to work sick and putting food on their tables.”

Previously, the Ontario government had its own paid sick leave program but it was eliminated in 2018 by the Ford Government. In a recent press release, NDP workplace health and safety critic Wayne Gates accused the Ford government of sitting on unused federal money that could be spent to benefit Ontarians.

The statement read, “Instead of using billions in COVID-19 funding to protect people, including with paid sick days, Ford is sitting on that money. He is still refusing to listen to public health experts, mayors, and the official opposition NDP who are telling him this will save lives and prevent the spread of this virus.”

There has been significant evidence proving that paid sick days are effective at containing COVID-19. The message is loud and clear: Paid Sick Days Save Lives.

The Region of Peel has extended their support and campaigned for paid sick days.

“Insufficient paid sick days, financial/income supports, and sick leave protection are known barriers to compliance to COVID-19 control measures, including testing and self-isolation. Paid sick day supports for workers who have COVID-19 or need to isolate because they may have been exposed to the virus will help support workers to follow public health guidance and support our essential businesses to operate safely, reducing community transmission of COVID-19,” said Dr. Lawrence Loh.

Nando Iannicca, Regional Chair, Region of Peel announced, “given the urgency of the current state of the pandemic, we cannot afford to wait to do more to prevent the spread of the virus in our community. We encourage residents to join the call on the federal and provincial governments to move forward to implement paid sick leave benefits, which are necessary to protect some of our most vulnerable workers.”

The House of Commons is scheduled to sit on February 12^th, 2021. As residents, it is crucial that we stay proactive and share our stories to secure government support for essential workers and convey our gratitude by not just our words but also our efforts.

Share your experiences and make the community aware. Ensure that what happened with you, doesn’t happen to others. Your workplace story could be the reason for change.