Arizbeth loves working with children. She adored the children in her charge at the daycare where she worked. When she was fired for calling in sick, the firing was all the harder for her because she suddenly lost not just her income and her dignity, but also contact with her children.

All had been going well at her job until she fell ill last year. Too sick to work, she called in to tell her boss she wouldn’t be able to care for the children that day. Her boss reacted harshly, insisting she come into work no matter how bad she felt.

Instead, Arizbeth was forced to go to the hospital as her condition got worse. She was admitted and treated for a serious infection. But when she reported to work the day after her release with a doctor’s note in hand, her boss told her she was fired. Arizbeth found herself alone, without financial resources. She lost her apartment and was forced to rely on the kindness of friends to get by.

The daycare where Arizbeth worked was small, too small for Arizbeth to be protected under federal or state family leave laws. It was, however, located in Portland and covered by Portland’s Earned Sick Time ordinance. According to the new law, she was entitled to take the time she had earned without facing intimidation, retaliation, or harassment. This law is so important to workers that we helped pass it at the state level, and now ALL of Oregon’s workers are covered!

Even though she was supposed to be protected by the law, Arizbeth’s boss fired her anyway. But NWJP is helping her seek justice.

We would love to tell you that Arizbeth’s case is unique, but sadly, that is not the case. Even though we have helped create a more just playing field for workers, employers still routinely violate the law, and for workers like Arizbeth, there are few resources to help fight back. NWJP is one of the few places that low wage workers can turn to when their rights are violated.

Thanks to all our supporters for allowing us to take on cases like Arizbeth’s.

But we need to ask for your help again. You can donate online to NEED Fund to support NWJP’s work at www.nwjp.org/get-involved