Georgia Job/Family Collaborative

In Support of the Healthy Families Act

Karen, Customer Service Rep        

Auto Parts Manufacturer

My name is Karen.*  I work for an auto parts manufacturer in Atlanta.  I have worked for this company for more than six years as an accounts receivable clerk and customer service representative.  I take pride in my work and am an exemplary employee.  I never miss time and am seldom sick.

 

I used to feel really good about my job despite the lack of company benefits.  I never really gave much thought to what would happen if I got sick until I became pregnant three years ago.  I did not have a typical pregnancy.  My doctor diagnosed an entopic pregnancy that required emergency surgery.  I didn’t have sick leave.  Suddenly I found myself in a position of having to take off time off work and didn’t have leave.

 

I was truly surprised by my employer’s reaction.  Instead of being supportive and concerned for my well being, he began a nasty campaign of harassment and threats.  I returned to work after only two days.  I was given a choice to return to work immediately or be terminated.  I returned to work.  I didn’t have the opportunity to heal from my surgery or to grieve the loss of my child.

 

Without health insurance or sick leave, just two days without pay hit my finances and budget hard.  Between doctor and hospital bills and my regular expenses I eventually fell behind on my rent and lost my home.

 

I am still employed with the auto parts company.  It is hard to find a job that pays decently, and I really do enjoy my work.  I can tell you that part of me will never forgive or forget how my employer treated me when I was down.  I don’t go that extra mile for him any longer.  Why should I?  I know that my job is secure only as long as I never get sick again.

 

Employers make a big deal about loyalty, honesty and respect from their workers.  Shouldn’t they be held to the same standards?  Paid sick lave should be a right, not an option.

 

* Not her real name.  Karen still works for this employer and does not want to jeopardize her job. Her testimony was read at a 2004 press conference at the Georgia Capitol by her mother, Gloria Bennett.

 

Santina Story, Hotel Housekeeper

My name is Santina Story.  As a single parent of three children, I have often been asked to choose between a paycheck and my children’s health.   My two year-old son has chronic asthma Because I put his health first, I am currently looking for work.

 

I worked as a housekeeper for a large hotel.  We had no sick days, paid or unpaid.  We were written up for missing work no matter what the reason.   I sometimes sent my son to daycare when he was sick, just to keep my job.   It’s hard to be at work when your child needs you.  On those days I spent most of my time worrying about him.

 

My supervisor was always saying, “If you can’t be at work every day, you must not need this job.”   I finally quit rather than waiting to be fired.  I needed to take my son to the doctor and didn’t want the termination on my record.

 

I wonder how the public would think of me if I left my son at daycare and something critical happened to him.  People would say I was a bad mother.  But caring for him meant loosing pay and I still need to pay bills and buy food for the whole family.

 

I would never forgive myself for choosing my job over my child’s health.  Parents should not have to make this kind of choice.