But many poor women would have to sacrifice pay to participate, while wealthier ones probably wouldn’t lose a penny. That’s because most low-income earners lack access to a single day of paid leave, even if the flu strikes or a baby arrives. Among the country’s bottom 10 percent of earners, for example, just 28 percent can take a day off without any income interruption. “It’s costing me money to do this,” she said, “but if I don’t fight for what’s right for me, who will?”Access to paid leave also cuts across racial lines. Then there’s the women who could lose their jobs if they miss a day on the clock.

Source: Washington Post March 07, 2017 22:20 UTC