Dear Mr. President, Mr. Vice President and Member of Congress:

Both the physical health and economic health of Americans now clearly are at risk from the Coronavirus. Public health officials are urging “social distancing” to help mitigate against the rapidly increasing spread of the disease. Large gatherings, including schools, concerts, and sporting events are being closed or cancelled. But too many businesses and workers are still facing the choice of dealing with the health crisis or the economic one.

As a business leader, I urge you to support the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (HR 6201). HR 6201 would allow people to take the time that they need to stay healthy or to recover, while not losing needed income. The bill provides for immediate emergency sick days, earned sick days, longer paid leave, and expanded unemployment insurance, with targeted assistance to small business. These steps provide a critical foundation for supporting community health and at least maintaining, if not increasing, business productivity

As you know the American Sustainable Business Council has long advocated for stronger paid family leave protections, a stand I, too, support, and this coronavirus crisis is a frightening demonstration of the need for federal action. When all employees have time to heal and time to care for sick family members, productivity increases, profits rise, our economy grows and our nation becomes stronger. To make this happen, workers need to have access to paid leave so they have support while dealing with personal or family health issues, and a job to come back to once the issues have been resolved.

Every health expert recommends that taking broad action quickly will help minimize the spread of this virus and other health threats. That can only benefit businesses, communities, and the economy as a whole. Yet, nationally, over 1 out of every 4 private sector employees lack access to earned sick days, and 60 percent of workers lack employer provided personal medical leave for a longer illness. But a recent study by ASBC and Panorama found a positive, or at worst neutral,

Every health expert recommends that taking broad action quickly will help minimize the spread of this virus and other health threats. That can only benefit businesses, communities, and the economy as a whole. Yet, nationally, over 1 out of every 4 private sector employees lack access to earned sick days, and 60 percent of workers lack employer provided personal medical leave for a longer illness. But a recent study by the American Sustainable Business Council and Panorama found a positive, or at worst neutral, impact on return on investment for businesses that offer paid leave.

You have the power to not only help ease this health and economic crisis, but ease the minds of your fellow citizens, whose worries only mount with each passing report of the spread of this disease. It’s time for immediate action. I urge you to please support HR 6201 today.

Sincerely,