HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — Sen. Joe San Agustin has introduced legislation expanding the situations in which government employees can take sick leave. The purpose of the bill is to align the definition of immediate family member with the community and family-centric ideals in Guam culture, according to the senator’s office.
Bill 261-37 is relatively simple. It adds the children of an employee’s siblings among the list of immediate family members for which that employee can take sick leave if they are compelled to be absent from duty to take care of that family member because of a serious illness or injury.
“If your sibling’s child is sick and has exhausted their sick leave and need(s) to go back in to work, you would be able to use your sick leave to assist them. This is what we do as a community – we reach out and help when help is needed, especially for our family,” San Agustin stated in a release announcing Bill 261.
He went on to emphasize the importance of updating laws to reflect the realities of modern family dynamics.
“As our understanding of family continues to evolve, it is imperative that our laws adapt to ensure inclusivity and support for all members of our community,” San Agustin stated in the release.
“We all too often support fundraisers for family and friends who experience medical hardships. By broadening the definition of immediate family in the law, ensuring that our sick leave policies remain relevant and responsive to the needs of our people, further providing much-needed assistance to our family,” he added.
Joe San Agustin
