Eastchester REVIEW THE
0ctober 12, 2018 | Vol. 6, Number 42 | www.eastchesterreview.com
Westchester County passes paid sick time law By JAMES PERO Staff Writer
PLAYOFF PUSH
Lily Jebejian beats an Edgemont defender down the field on Oct. 9. The Broncos beat the Panthers 2-0 as they look towards the postseason. For story, see page 15. Photo/Mike Smith
Westchester to offer free flu vaccine clinics Westchester County Executive George Latimer announced that the county Health Department will offer free flu vaccines for students of any college on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at Westchester Community College and for residents age 3 and up at the County Clinic in White Plains on Tuesday, Oct. 30. “Don’t put off your flu shot any longer—make an appointment for one today,” Latimer said. “Flu can be miserable, and this vaccine will help keep you and your family healthy well into 2019.” While the clinics are open to all, they are intended for people without insurance or whose insurance doesn’t cover vaccines. Register online for these flu vaccine clinics at health.ny.gov/gotoclinic/60. Appointments are available as follows: • College students • Oct. 23 at the Westchester
The Westchester County Health Department plans to provide up to 1,700 flu vaccines this fall. It has focused its public vaccination efforts on people who lack the means to get vaccinated elsewhere by bringing flu shots to homeless shelters, soup kitchens and food pantries throughout Westchester.
Community College Student Center • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. • Residents age 3 and up
• Oct. 30 at the County Clinic, 134 Court St., White Plains • 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Flu shots are also available for a fee from many area pharmacists and medical offices. The county Health Department plans to provide up to 1,700 flu vaccines this fall. It has focused its public vaccination efforts on people who lack the means to get vaccinated elsewhere by bringing flu shots to homeless shelters, soup kitchens and food pantries throughout Westchester. “Everyone six months and older should get an annual flu shot,” said Dr. Sherlita Amler, the county health commissioner. “Flu can make otherwise healthy adults and children very ill and it can be deadly. When healthier people get an annual flu shot, they help protect the people around them, including infants too young to be
vaccinated, seniors and people with chronic health conditions, who are more vulnerable to flu complications.” Flu activity is usually highest between December and February, but can last into May. One flu vaccine now provides protection all season long and can prevent illness or reduce the severity of flu symptoms. The vaccine becomes fully effective after about two weeks. Amler said that anyone who does get a respiratory infection should cough or sneeze into their elbow, wash their hands frequently with soap and water, stay home until 24 hours after their fever subsides to avoid spreading germs, clean surfaces they touch frequently, such as doorknobs, water faucets, refrigerator handles and telephones, and get plenty of rest. (Submitted)
Westchester lawmakers voted to pass a sick leave law that will afford county workers mandatory sick time on an hourly basis. According to the new law, public and private sector workers will earn one hour of sick time for every 30 hours a week, with a limit of 40 hours total. The law will encompass businesses with five or more employees and will allow workers to use accrued sick time for scenarios outside of illnesses including personal events like doctors’ appointments or to take care of ill family members. “By passing this legislation we say loudly and proudly to workers everywhere in Westchester County: your health, your well-being, matters,” said county Legislator Catherine Borgia, a Peekskill Democrat. “The protections we’re enshrining into law today are good for public health, good for business, and essential to worker safety and dignity.” The measure passed 12-5 with the entire Republican caucus voting against the bill; Kitley Covill, a Bedford Democrat, also voted down the law. Advocates of the measure say by forcing workers to attend work
while sick, it may decrease productivity through increasing the likelihood that illnesses are spread. According to a report from 2016 from the Institute of Women’s Policy Research, about 36 percent of county workers lack paid sick time, with many of them earning low wages and only working parttime—a subset of employees that may not have designated time off. Among those workers, 54 percent are of total service workers and 52 percent of total construction workers, respectively. Detractors of paid sick time laws claim that requiring businesses to pay employees for time off would incur significant costs on their part, plus workers may take sick days off when they’re not actually sick. There is currently no statewide law mandating employers to provide workers paid sick leave though nearly a dozen other states across the country have passed laws to do so, including Connecticut and New Jersey; New Jersey’s law will go into effect this fall. The bill passed by the Westchester Legislature will affect more than 120,000 workers across the county. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
Westchester workers will be entitled to paid sick time after the county Board of Legislators voted in favor of the law 12-5. Photo courtesy westchesergov.com