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Washington lawmakers propose paid sick leave for all employees

Workers could use the days to stay home if not feeling well, if their child’s school closed emergency or if their job closed due to a public health emergency.

SPOKANE, Wash. — In light of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Washington State, lawmakers are proposing all workers receive paid time off from their employers.

Senator Patty Murray and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro announced the legislation that would allow employees to accrue at least seven days of paid sick time in a year.

The legislation also states in the case of a public health emergency, employees would immediately get 14 paid sick days to add to their accrued sick days.

Workers could use the days to stay home if not feeling well, if their child’s school closed for a health emergency or if their job closed due to a public health emergency.

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An employee would also still receive pay if they or a family member were quarantined or isolated for a health emergency.

“In the middle of a public health care crisis like this, staying home sick shouldn’t have to mean losing a paycheck or a job,” Sen. Murray wrote in a summary of the legislation.

Murray and DeLauro first proposed legislation for paid sick time in 2004, but the two lawmakers said the coronavirus cases called for them to raise the legislation again.

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