The concept of "paid sick days" baffles me. It implies that when the doctor says you're too sick to work and hands you a certificate, you won't get paid by default or that it should even be legal to not pay you. No wonder Americans are so reluctant to see the doctor, if both the doctor is expensive and also they won't get paid if they're sick.
In most EU countries you are not allowed to work and your employer will get into trouble if he lets you work when you've got a sick cert. Your employer obviously also has to pay you and is not allowed to fire you for getting sick[1].
If this outbreak causes the US to update its workers protections for the 21st century, at least something good will come out of it.
[1]: in some countries you can receive a reduction in pay after being sick for X months in a row, usually to ~60%.
In most EU countries you are not allowed to work and your employer will get into trouble if he lets you work when you've got a sick cert. Your employer obviously also has to pay you and is not allowed to fire you for getting sick[1].
If this outbreak causes the US to update its workers protections for the 21st century, at least something good will come out of it.
[1]: in some countries you can receive a reduction in pay after being sick for X months in a row, usually to ~60%.