Through the years, as an hourly worker in Central Maine, I have held a number of jobs, mostly in manufacturing, warehousing or driving a truck. Except for a handful of holidays, I work every day of the week, every week. Currently, I have two part-time jobs. On both jobs, I am constantly walking, constantly lifting. Neither job has paid sick leave.

On July 4 of last year, I fell and tore the soft tissue in my right shoulder. No paid sick leave — I had to keep working. If I had stopped working, I wouldn’t have been able to pay the mortgage. My physical work actually irritated my shoulder injury and held back my healing. Months later, I am still healing and I still haven’t gotten back all the strength and flexibility in that shoulder. I have wondered why some workers in Maine can take time to care for injury or illness while some people cannot.

It just seems to me that a healthy worker is more productive than an injured worker. It seems to me that a healthy worker can contribute more to his employer, to his family, to his community and to the tax base that supports the commonwealth.

It seems to me that, just as businesses can invest in machines, in buildings, in production processes and in infrastructure, so, too, they can invest in their employees.

I hope that the state Legislature passes the paid sick day bill this year.

Steve Turner, Mechanic Falls