Temporary legislation has been introduced that would provide five paid sick days for employees who are sent home (or told to stay home) by their employers due to contagious illnesses such as the H1N1 virus.

The bill was introduced yesterday by George Miller (D-CA), Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee.

According to Miller, “Sick workers advised to stay home by their employers shouldn’t have to choose between their livelihood and their co-workers’ or customers’ health. This will not only protect employees, but it will save employers money by ensuring that sick employees don’t spread infection to co-workers and customers, and will relive the financial burden on our health system swamped by those suffering from H1N1.”

Miller says that a committee hearing on the bill will take place the week of November 16 and that he will press for a vote as soon as possible.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 10:23 am and is filed under Employment Law News, H1N1, Swine Flu. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.