Should Paid Sick Days Be Required?

1. Set Focus
Frame the inquiry with these essential questions: In what ways does technology improve our lives? What is the purpose of government in a democracy? How does a government fulfill its duties to members of society who have competing needs and goals?

2. Read and Discuss
Have students read the debate and then answer the following questions:

• What is the issue being debated? How does it relate to current events? (The issue is whether the federal government should require all businesses to offer paid sick days to all workers. The issue is timely because Covid-19 has led to more workers potentially needing to stay home sick.)

• Evaluate why these two authors might be interested in and qualified to comment on this issue. (As senators, both Patty Murray and James Lankford help create U.S. laws, including laws that protect workers’ rights and foster business interests.)
  

3. Core Skill Practice
Project or distribute Analyzing Authors’ Claims and have students use the activity to analyze and evaluate each author’s arguments.

• Analyze Murray’s view. (Murray argues in favor of requiring paid sick days. She points out that one in four workers have no paid sick days. She says a national paid sick days policy will help keep individuals, communities, and our economy strong. She says that if such a policy had been in place, it would have helped reduce the spread of Covid-19.)

• Analyze Lankford’s view. (Lankford argues against requiring paid sick days. He says they’re a benefit companies use to attract the best workers. He also says that having to pay workers for work they didn’t do would make it harder for people to start new businesses. He says it doesn’t make sense to permanently change the law for a temporary health crisis.)
  

4. Writing Prompt
In an essay, evaluate one of the debaters’ arguments. Assess whether the reasoning is valid and whether it’s supported with evidence. Point out biases or missing information.

5. Classroom Debate
Should paid sick days be required? Have students use the authors’ ideas, as well as their own, in a debate.

6. Vote
Go online to vote in Upfront’s poll—and see how students across the country voted.