Protecting Workers During Public Health Emergencies

March 9, 2020

No one should have to fear losing their job, through no fault of their own, during a public health emergency. In the United States, the power to isolate and quarantine exists at both the federal and state level. Unfortunately, most states, including Pennsylvania, do not address whether an employer can fire an employee while under quarantine or in isolation. That’s why I’ll be introducing legislation to protect workers from retaliation when they take leave during public health emergencies, like the ongoing coronavirus epidemic.

On March 6, 2020, Governor Wolf signed an emergency disaster declaration to provide increased support to state agencies involved in the response to the virus. The state has already sent legal quarantine notices to the individuals with presumed positive cases of the virus. Fortunately, the individuals in the state with presumed positive cases of the virus have voluntarily quarantined themselves at home, which will end when they’ve been without symptoms for 14 days.