New York City is currently considering a bill which would require businesses in the city to provide between five and nine paid sick days for all workers.

Supporters estimate that 1.3 million workers in New York lack any sick days at all. This bill would enable employees, including many who can't afford not to get paid for even one day, to tend to their own mental and physical health needs and also care for sick spouses, children, partners and other family members. (All the while protecting consumers from interacting with sick cashiers, food service workers and more.) Therefore, the law would have the greatest positive impact on working mothers and caretakers, who need all the help they can get.

As it turns out, the bill has far more proponents than detractors on the City Council — in fact, it had a veto-proof majority as of September — but City Council Speaker Christine Quinn has declined to take a formal position, indicating that she was waiting on the results of a pro-business study to make a decision on whether the bill should come up for a vote.

Tell Speaker Quinn to allow the paid sick leave act to come up for a vote, so New York's workers can get the rights they deserve.

Photo credit: meddygarnet