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Lansing Democrats hope Trump support for paid sick leave will give state effort traction

William Brawley
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Flickr Creative Commons http://michrad.io/1LXrdJM

If you work, you deserve paid sick time.

That was the message of Democratic lawmakers in Lansing today who introduced legislation that would require employers to let full- and part-time workers earn sick time.

Employees would get one hour of sick time for every 30 hours they work.

The legislation would let workers use the time off for their own illness or the illness of a close family member. It would also apply to LBGT families, grandparents raising children, and single-parent families.

Bill sponsor Rep. Stephanie Chang , D-Detroit, said many Michiganders support the legislation. But some Republican leaders have already expressed disapproval of the bills, saying they cannot risk Michigan's recovery on such a major new mandate.

"We're going to keep pushing," said Chang. "Really this should not be, and is not, a partisan issue. We'll keep advocating and keep bringing up the voices of folks who are most affected by these issues."

Similar legislation has failed several times in the past.

Christina Hayes is a mother from Detroit, and she has had to risk being fired or miss doctor appointments for serious illness.

"It's like, do you go to work, you pass out, you die trying – literally," said Hayes. "Or do you put a legislation such as this in place to help people like myself."

Copyright 2017 Michigan Radio

Before becoming the newest Capitol reporter for the Michigan Public Radio Network, Cheyna Roth was an attorney. She spent her days fighting it out in court as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Ionia County. Eventually, Cheyna took her investigative and interview skills and moved on to journalism. She got her masters at Michigan State University and was a documentary filmmaker, podcaster, and freelance writer before finding her home with NPR. Very soon after joining MPRN, Cheyna started covering the 2016 presidential election, chasing after Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and all their surrogates as they duked it out for Michigan. Cheyna also focuses on the Legislature and criminal justice issues for MPRN. Cheyna is obsessively curious, a passionate storyteller, and an occasional backpacker. Follow her on Twitter at @Cheyna_R