Cleveland Heights Rep Wants More Protections For Ohio Workers

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — The Ohio economy continued its phased reopening on Monday, with many industries returning to work. Several state Democrats, including one from Cleveland Heights, are worried the state has asked the impossible of many workers: choose between their health and their paycheck.

“As the richest country in the world, no one should have to worry about providing for their family or risk going into an unsafe working environment as a condition of employment," said state Rep. Janine Boyd, from Cleveland Heights.

On May 1, veterinarians, dentists and elective surgical procedures were allowed to come back online. On May 4, general office work, construction, distribution and manufacturing were allowed to return. On May 12, consumer retail stores will be allowed to reopen.

However, Gov. Mike DeWine has not released a plan to reopen daycares, schools remain closed and there is no plan for medically-vulnerable workers to continue receiving unemployment if they choose not to return to work, Boyd and other state Democrats noted.

"I have introduced two paid sick leave bills to ensure that short-term and long-term relief will be provided to workers and their families," Boyd said. "No one should have to choose between their health and a paycheck. My legislation also addresses something that is too often ignored- toxic stress, which derails healthy development and increases the likelihood of illness.”

Boyd and other Ohio House Democrats have called on DeWine and state leaders to address the following concerns, before Ohioans are booted off unemployment or endangering themselves and others to work:

• Expand paid family and sick leave
• Address childcare concerns for working parents
• Expand internet access
• Install more protections for Ohio workers
• Extend worker compensation coverage for frontline workers
• Add support for small businesses
• Eliminate surprise medical billing, expand telehealth and protect Ohioans with pre-existing conditions
• Bar utility disconnections during the pandemic
• Halt debt collection during the pandemic

Reps. Kent Smith, Stephanie Howse, Juanita Brent and Randi Clites have all called on DeWine to address concerns as Ohio continues to reopen.