I was diagnosed with lupus at the age of 19, joining nearly 1.5 other million Americans who have the chronic illness that can cause the immune system to attack itself. This disease requires many doctor's visits, and the treatment is similar to getting treated for cancer. It's very time-intensive, and it completely disrupts your everyday life—and most of us do not have the protection of paid leave policies that ensure we get the time we need to take care of ourselves.
My health worsened, until I eventually passed out at work one day. I was being forced to prioritize a paycheck over my own health.
That's because the United States is one of the only countries in the world without a federal paid leave policy.
As a result of my chronic illness, I regularly feel extreme fatigue and intense muscle pain. It can feel like completing a full-body workout—without doing anything at all. This was a big challenge for me earlier in my career—I didn't know which days were going to hit me the hardest, but I also didn't have access to paid leave. I really wanted to be a good employee and a good worker, but at the end of the day, my health just kept getting in the way.
Eventually, I stopped even going to doctor's appointments because my bills began piling up, and I needed to take care of my daughter. Even though my supervisor used to work as a nurse and was incredibly understanding, there was only so much she could do. At the end of the day my job didn't offer paid time off, and I needed to pay my bills. This led to more complications. My health worsened, until I eventually passed out at work one day. I was being forced to prioritize a paycheck over my own health.
A lack of paid leave and the security and support it provides can leave you feeling helpless. The United States has a history of not embracing policies that support our families and, in particular, women; and that's acutely felt now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade. Our government refuses to enact enormously popular, common sense paid leave policies, even as our rights are eroded.
It turns out I wasn't the only person who was fed up with having to choose between work and health. I got involved with Mothering Justice, a grassroots policy advocacy organization for mothers of color in America, and started regularly advocating for paid sick leave policies. I started sharing my story and journey to help people realize that we shouldn't have to prioritize our jobs over our health. In turn, I learned from many other people who had similar stories to mine, and it felt incredibly gratifying to know I wasn't the only person who was struggling with this.
Eventually, I started working for Mothering Justice full-time and found the support I needed to be the best version of myself while advocating for policies that would help families across America. Knowing that I now have access to paid time off whenever my chronic illness gets the better of me has made a significant impact on my life. My doctor even noted a change in my blood pressure, and I've felt a new purpose and passion. Every single day, I use that passion and purpose as fuel to advocate for everyone who is impacted by a lack of paid leave in their lives.
Pain and sickness are universal, and no one is safe from it. I'm in a better position now than I was earlier in my life, but I will continue to fight until everyone has access to universal paid time off. Everyone deserves the opportunity to live a healthy life and take care of themselves. It's long past time for our elected officials in Congress to step up and pass a comprehensive federal paid leave policy that provides every single working individual in America with paid family and sick leave.
This content originally appeared on Common Dreams - Breaking News & Views for the Progressive Community and was authored by Christina Hayes.
Christina Hayes | Radio Free (2022-10-14T15:36:55+00:00) Having a Chronic Illness Without Paid Leave Is Nearly Impossible and Needs to Change Now. Retrieved from https://www.radiofree.org/2022/10/14/having-a-chronic-illness-without-paid-leave-is-nearly-impossible-and-needs-to-change-now/
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