Atlanta 9to5

Our voices

Santina’s Story

My name is Santina Story.  As a single parent of three children, I have often been asked to choose between a paycheck and my children’s health.   My two year-old son has chronic asthma Because I put his health first, I am currently looking for work.

I worked as a housekeeper for a large hotel.  We had no sick days, paid or unpaid.  We were written up for missing work no matter what the reason.   I sometimes sent my son to daycare when he was sick, just to keep my job.   It’s hard to be at work when your child needs you.  On those days I spent most of my time worrying about him.

My supervisor was always saying, “If you can’t be at work every day, you must not need this job.”   I finally quit rather than waiting to be fired.  I needed to take my son to the doctor and didn’t want the termination on my record.

I wonder how the public would think of me if I left my son at daycare and something critical happened to him.  People would say I was a bad mother.  But caring for him meant loosing pay and I still need to pay bills and buy food for the whole family.

I would never forgive myself for choosing my job over my child’s health.  Parents should not have to make this kind of choice.

 

Jennetta’s Story

 

My name is Jennetta Allen and I am 15 years old. I don’t have a job yet but I hope that when I get one it will be as flexible as the one my Mom has.

I get sick a lot and it makes me feel better knowing that I can call my Mom to come get me from school when I don’t feel good.  Some of my friends have to sit in the office all day when they are sick because their parents can’t take off work to come get them.

Once when I was little I got real sick at school. I waited and waited but Mom never came. I couldn’t ride the bus so the Principal had to drive me home and wait with me for my Mom. I felt terrible. I thought my Mom didn’t love me as much as her job. When my Mom finally made it home she was crying more than I was. She told me her boss would not let her leave. My Mom was fired because her boss THOUGHT I might get sick again! I’m glad she doesn’t work for them anymore.

My Mom says that she would have trouble concentrating and doing her job well if she knew I was sick and she couldn’t come and take care of me. I am thankful that her boss understands that as much as Mom loves her job, she loves me more.

I think everyone should be entitled to sick leave.  Parents should be able to take care of their kids and not have to choose between jobs and children.