Letter: Support legislation to assist working families

Posted 4/24/17

To the editor:

We are all asked to balance our work and our family lives, but today, that is more challenging than ever before. We need to recognize the realities that today’s families face …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


Letter: Support legislation to assist working families

Posted

To the editor:

We are all asked to balance our work and our family lives, but today, that is more challenging than ever before. We need to recognize the realities that today’s families face and embrace common sense policies that help everyone to meet their responsibilities at work and at home.

I was extremely lucky to be raised by a stay-at-home mother who dedicated her life to being a caregiver to everyone in our family. Today, many American families do not have that privilege — almost half of married households have two working parents, and that statistic doesn’t include unmarried couples or single parents. 

Our loved ones still need care, and most households do not have a dedicated caregiver available to provide it. When so many of us are getting by on tight budgets, we can’t afford to take a day off, even when someone needs care.

Our legislators here in Rhode Island have introduced the Healthy and Safe Families and Workplaces Act (S290 and H5413) to help us take care of ourselves and our loved ones when it is most needed. 

The bill gives workers the opportunity to earn up to seven days of paid sick time off per year. This is accrued over nine months of full-time employment, or on an hourly basis (one hour of leave for every 30 hours worked). Documentation must be provided for leave periods longer than three days and there are requirements for proper notification. This valuable time is earned through hard work and it’s an absolute necessity in the 21st century.

In my opinion, this bill represents the bare minimum of respect and understanding that an employee should earn from a healthy workplace. Rhode Islanders must speak up for families and workers across our state and demand this bill move forward in the General Assembly.

Daniela Abbott

52 Ladeira Ave.

Portsmouth

letters, opinion

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.