Coronavirus-weary Washington can’t do this alone; America needs paid sick leave law now

Quarantines and other coronavirus precautions now underway in Washington do more than contain the spread of a dangerous epidemic; they also constrain the bank accounts and buying power of workers who face the specter of having to stay home indefinitely.

Fortunately, the COVID-19 outbreak has spurred Washington leaders to expand paid-time-off options that households will need to pay their bills in the stressful weeks ahead.

Little by little, state officials are stitching together a coronavirus safety net for Washington workers. It includes resources — such as expanded shared sick leave, workers compensation and unemployment benefits — to help people stay home and protect themselves, their families and their community without fear of going broke.

Time off with pay, along with alternatives like telecommuting, should help stem the tide of a contagion that’s killed 31 people out of a confirmed 457 cases in Washington so far. Hourly workers and others living paycheck to paycheck must not drag themselves to work if they have the virus, might have contracted it or are caring for someone who is or could be a carrier.

But while the state’s role is important, let’s be clear: The federal government owns this mess and has a duty to the American workforce. Those who need immediate coronavirus financial relief won’t find it amid partisan theatrics in Congress or retread ideas from the White House, like President Trump’s proposed payroll tax.

Common-sense legislation introduced by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, would guarantee workers 14 days of paid sick leave during a public health crisis. Not coincidentally, that’s the length of time, under federal rules, required for a coronavirus quarantine.

A sick-leave bill needs urgent action. As long as Senate and House Republicans keep up the delays, it will stand as an abdication of responsibility, a betrayal of US workers and a sign that Washington is on its own — along with all other states certain to see an explosion of coronavirus.

What Washington has done independently to expand paid time off is a credit to state leaders, although limited in scope:

* Paid Family & Medical Leave — This new state program went into effect in January, a year after payroll deductions were launched to fund it. Workers are eligible for up to 12 weeks of leave. Just in the nick of time, right?

Yes, except it doesn’t fully replace lost wages, has been slowed by a deluge of applications and would only pay if you’re sick with the virus — not for quarantine, self-isolation or school closure.

* Shared sick leave — State employees already can tap their unused leave bank and contribute days to fellow employees who have an extended illness or injury.

Under an emergency change by the Legislature this week, Washington’s shared sick leave program now also covers employees stuck in coronavirus quarantine.

This program is a nice tool for co-workers to help each other through a major hardship. But it only goes so far; private-sector workers need not apply.

* Workers compensation — Last week the state changed its policy in response to the COVID-19 emergency, providing workers comp coverage during a doctor-ordered quarantine.

But this protection is limited, too, applying only to those on the front lines of the epidemic: health care workers and first responders.

* Unemployment benefits — Under emergency rules, you can qualify for unemployment checks if laid off due to a temporary coronavirus workplace shutdown. Or if you get really ill from the virus, quit your job and recover enough to be employable again.

That’s a lot of “if”s. As safety nets go, this one is definitely a last line of defense.

Who’s at fault for a weak first line of defense? Uncle Sam.

For all Washington’s piecemeal efforts and those of other state and local governments — and for all the individual companies, like WalMart and Starbucks, stepping up with coronavirus paid sick days — this is now a national economic emergency and homeland security crisis. The federal government must take initiative and show backbone.

Pass a national emergency sick leave law, and do it now.

This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 2:30 PM.