NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut Joins Advocates in Support of Basic Workplace Standard for Paid Sick Days

Advocates in support of paid sick days for Connecticut’s worker’s came to the Legislative Office Building today to ask Connecticut lawmakers to pass S.B 63, which would allow workers at businesses with more than 50 employees to earn paid sick time—up to five days per year.

NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut supports this important policy change because of the profound affect it can have on low income pregnant women in Connecticut and their access to adequate prenatal care. Low-income women in Connecticut have higher rates of inadequate, late or no prenatal care, have higher rates of low birth weight, and their babies are more likely to die than higher income earning women in the state.

Adequate prenatal care is necessary for a healthy pregnancy and healthy child and is directly linked to preventing mother and child from costly health conditions later on in life. During a healthy pregnancy a woman will visit her doctor twelve times. Low income working women in Connecticut should be given the opportunity to attend at least some of their prenatal visits without losing pay.

State Senator Edith Prague and State Senator John Kissel spoke out in support of SB 63, as did Connecticut Working Families, Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services, and the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women.