cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/34329504
Voters approved sick leave mandate by 58%, but lawmakers are caving to lobbying by the state’s chamber of commerce
Being sick is a costly business for Bill Thompson, who worked in the fast-food industry in Independence, Missouri, for more than 30 years, and recently worked at Guitar Center until early July, when he was laid off as.
“As an older worker, I have health issues from working on my feet and with my hands for many years with no breaks for eight to 10 hours a day. I have done it for 38 years now, living paycheck to paycheck,” 54-year-old Thompson said, noting in Missouri, workers are not mandated breaks of any kind during work.
So when Republicans in Missouri repealed a paid sick leave mandate that the state’s voters approved by 58% after an aggressive lobbying campaign by the Missouri chamber of commerce and industry and other business industry groups, he said, “It was a literal gut punch.”
Absolutely agree it’s a public health disaster. People will also “save” their sick days and show up sick instead of take them, even when they have them available. We have a very toxic work ethic. Also, our schooling preps us for never missing a day. We’re praised and rewarded from childhood for not missing a single school day. And kids who have health problems or miss school regularly are scorned. I wish I was kidding. Hoping this has changed at least since Covid. But I doubt it.