In November 2006, I gave birth to my son. Like countless other parents at the time, I had to rely on my accrued sick days to spend time with my newborn and maintain a paycheck. Because of this, I sacrificed a significant portion of my sick time and, more importantly, lost seniority in my job. The only time I took away from work was due to childbirth, yet it cost me professionally.

Today, thanks to the Delaware Healthy Families Act, parents can take family leave without using their sick days or losing seniority. While this is a tremendous step forward for Delaware families, it is crucial to acknowledge and compensate those of us who had children before this act came into effect. Many of us had to make difficult choices between family and career, and we are still feeling the consequences of those decisions today.

We are calling upon the Delaware State Government to develop a recompensation plan for parents like myself, who lost important job benefits due to outdated policies. This plan should include the return of seniority credits and restoration of sick days used for parental leave prior to the act's implementation.

Delaware has chosen to support families with the current act. Extending this support retroactively would demonstrate true commitment to all Delaware parents, acknowledging their sacrifices and giving back what was taken under the previous policy framework.

By signing this petition, you are standing for fairness and justice, and showing solidarity with the parents who paved the way for the healthier, more supportive work environments we have today. Join us in urging the Delaware State Government to act now and address this oversight for those who missed out on these benefits before the passage of the Delaware Healthy Families Act.