Plan B Forum

As the coronavirus outbreak (Covid-19) has begun to spread through the United States, millions of low-wage workers in service industries are left vulnerable due to lack of proper medical benefits and paid sick leave. There are growing concerns that these workers will be extra vulnerable to the disease themselves, or, due to lack of health insurance and poverty, help its spread by continuing to work while ill.

Over 32 million workers in the US have no paid sick days off, and low-wage workers are least likely to have paid sick time. These workers are also significantly less likely to have access to healthcare and medical benefits, making them potentially especially vulnerable to the coronavirus outbreak as it spreads.

According to the latest data available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 69% of low-wage workers, those in the tenth lowest percentile of median wage earners in the US civilian workforce, do not receive paid sick leave benefits.

“Their earnings are low so they can’t afford to take unpaid leave and when they are sick they have to keep working and expose other people in the process,” said Harry Holzer, a professor of public policy at Georgetown University.

“That’s the reason advocates for paid leave make the case, it’s not just for the worker, it’s for the public good. There’s a reason for the government to help provide it.”


More here...

Budget 2020: Chancellor on coronavirus sick pay changes

The chancellor has said that the NHS will get "whatever it needs, whatever it costs" to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

In his first Budget speech, Rishi Sunak set out a three-point £1bn plan for the UK economy to cope with the effect on the workforce.

It will include extending access to statutory sick pay, and those self-isolating being able to get a sick note over the phone.

And he said it would be "easier" to access benefits, with no need to attend job centres in person.

Econoline wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 10, 2020 4:55 pm

No matter what the laws say, there's no protection for many "gig economy" jobs, especially "ride-share" (Uber, Lyft) and food delivery. If you're an "independent contractor" who needs the money, you're SOL.