Group Begins Collecting Signatures for Paid Sick Time Ballot Initiative

A group driving the push for employers to offer paid sick time to their employees is beginning to collect signatures for a ballot proposal.

The Reverend Lindsay Anderson, of the Detroit Cooperative Parish, says it’s not fair for people to have to choose between staying well and paying the bills.

That’s what happened to Staci Lowry of Mothering Justice.

She took unpaid time off to care for her daughter, who had a stroke, because her employer didn’t offer paid time off.

Lowry says she eventually lost her house because she wasn’t bringing in a paycheck.

Time to Care will use a team of volunteers to try and collect 350,000 signatures by February.

A ballot initiative needs roughly 250,000 signatures before it can be approved.