Encouraging Paid Leave with Freedom Virginia

𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 (𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘳𝘴. 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘴' 𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳?) Nicole Quaste O'Sullivan, 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴. -Natalie⁣

When Natalie hired me as a full-time employee in October of 2019, I was offered unlimited paid time off and sick leave, as well as full remote work capability. I didn't realize at the time just how important this would be.⁣

⁣

When my puppy got her spade surgery earlier this year, she reacted poorly to the procedure, requiring multiple vet visits.⁣

⁣

Later, when COVID-19 hit, I had peace of mind from the beginning, knowing that if myself or my husband were to get sick, I had that paid time off. (No one should have to worry more about getting paid and paying their rent, than getting sick.) Not to mention, unlimited PTO allowed me to take a mental health day or two when I needed it.⁣

⁣

As a Virginian for the last year, I was shocked to find out that Virginia employees are not guaranteed paid sick leave – something Natalie and I both feel strongly about.⁣

⁣

The ability to take my dog to the vet, schedule a doctor’s appointment in the middle of the day – or even take an hour to pick up holiday gifts for my family – removes that added layer of stress that so many employees experience in trying to achieve a healthy work-life integration.⁣

⁣

It’s something that every employee deserves.⁣

⁣

I encourage all of you in Natalie's community to learn more about the importance of paid sick leave by visiting voices.freedomva.org⁣

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Freedom Virginia. The opinions and text are all my own.