By Marjorie E. Roberts
November 8, 2021

Covid-19 was a wake-up call about our systemic failures, and Congress has a clear path to answering that call by finally passing a national paid leave policy.

Congress is now considering a bill that would mandate four weeks of paid family and medical leave for workers — down from the 12 weeks House Democrats originally proposed. For people like me who have been affected emotionally, physically and financially by the Covid-19 pandemic, we know that four weeks is less than we need. But it’s a critical and lifesaving first step.

On March 17, 2020,  the hospital gift shop I managed closed because of the pandemic lockdown. I fully expected that I’d be back at work in a few weeks. And I was anxious to go back — I wasn’t sure if I could afford more than a few weeks without pay. But nine days later, my financial worries took a backseat as all my focus went to fighting my own case of Covid. 

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Read More: NBC News