We should not have to choose between a pandemic and a paycheck. And our kids should not have to be exposed to a lethal flu virus because our policy on paid sick leave is so primitive.

In Milwaukee alone, more than 3,000 people have H1N1 flu (commonly called the swine flu).

While we wait for a vaccine, we know that many viruses can be contained when sick children and adults are allowed to stay home and recover.

But what happens when you don’t have any paid sick days and H1N1 strikes?

Back in May, 20,000 children in Milwaukee were shut out of schools with less then a day’s notice. Parents without paid sick time and not lucky enough to have last-minute child care faced leaving a child home alone or discipline at work.

One woman in Milwaukee continued to work at her temp job even when she thought she had caught H1N1 from her child.

Another was sick for more than 10 days with a fever but kept working because otherwise she would lose her fast-food job.

Another parent lost vital income when her child came down with H1N1 and the entire family was quarantined by the health department. She was forced to work double shifts the rest of the month to pay the bills.

In cities where H1N1 seems to have receded, there is a growing concern about its comeback this fall.

A Harvard study found that half of the parents it polled were worried that if their children’s school was closed, they would miss work or pay. And adults surveyed without kids said they were worried about loss of income if they were ordered to stay home a week or 10 days, a common quarantine time for H1N1. Blacks and Latinos were much more likely to predict loss of income or loss of their jobs because of illness, the study found.

Guaranteed paid sick time would alleviate the concerns of parents and other adult workers. It would also slow the virus in its tracks. That’s why a policy of guaranteed paid sick time is an urgent public health issue.

Sangita Nayak is the lead organizer for the group 9to5 in Milwaukee. She can be reached at pmproj [at] progressive [dot] org.