Why Employee Sick Leave is Important

As many of us are engaging in social distancing, we are starting to recognize the importance of having time to rest and recover away from work when not feeling well. Unfortunately, many individuals don’t always have the luxury of taking time off when they’re feeling ill, and this can further spread illness to others while also leaving the sick individual feeling depleted. 

With over half of the population in the United States living paycheck to paycheck, taking time off often simply is not an option. This is especially true for hourly workers who fear the consequences of taking time off, so they go to work anyway when feeling ill. 

This is one of the reasons that not having sick leave time is so detrimental and puts others at risk. If individuals felt that they were able to recoup at home when feeling ill, not only would it help to “contain” the disease, but it would limit the chances of spreading the illness to other employees or customers. 

During the current coronavirus pandemic, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and C.A.R.E.S. Act are forcing employers without sick leave policies to change how they handle these situations. More information can be found in this article.

For most states that have no local laws regulating paid sick leave, the federal government forcing new rules and regulations is meant to help mitigate the spread of coronavirus. However, when the pandemic is over, these changes might be withdrawn, putting many people back into the same position they were before.

While creating universal regulations that apply to all states around sick leave and other benefits related to medical situations have been discussed by politicians, they have not yet been enacted. When thinking about how illnesses can spread, making sure that employees have an option to stay home and prevent the spread of illness without losing pay or having their job put at risk might need to be taken more seriously.

While it is impractical to think that we can entirely prevent or contain the illness, we can still try to do our part. The first thing to do is if you have the option to stay home, then stay home. Along with this, think about ways to support your immune system.

Some tips to support the immune system includes getting enough sleep at night or taking naps throughout the day, taking probiotics, eating a variety of fruits and vegetables to encourage microbial diversity, exercising, and meditating. Things like meditating, journaling, and reading allow the mind and body to reduce stress. 

Strath Original Superfood Liquid from Natures Answer also provides the body with various fermented vitamins, minerals, amino acids, prebiotics, and herbs. This combination has a synergistic effect as it seeks to support concentration, immunity, and stress-relief. This formula may be ideal for people looking for an “all-in-one” supplement.

It is easy to worry ourselves into exhaustion and fear during times like these, but remember to be gentle with your mind and body, try to take it all in one step at a time, know your facts but avoid excessive media consumption, do your part by engaging in social distancing, and follow basic hygiene tips like washing your hands and sneezing into the sleeve of your arm.