Miami-Dade residents are in a fight to change county law and require sick leave for employees of private companies. These employees function as security guards at Miami International Airport and Miami-Dade’s transit system, along with workers for contractors across county government. Now during the coronavirus pandemic, their argument has only strengthened.

Later this week, commissioners will get to vote on whether to kill new legislation that requires contractors to provide at least 7 days of sick leave pay a year but only applying to new contracts of companies larger than 15 employees. In a press conference headed by the SEIU this week, workers shared their grievances in feeling compelled to turn up to work while sick when they don’t have the option to call out.

“When coupled with health threats such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presenteeism poses the potential for grave public health consequences,” a report from the auditor’s office of the County Commission said. “In light of the current pandemic, paid sick leave has come to the forefront of national concern given that many employees without paid sick leave cannot afford to stay home when sick, increasing the likelihood of contagion.”