The state of Virginia can help by offering some accrued paid sick leave to all its employees, even if they work part-time. Over 50% of the employees at the state agency where I work are part-time and no matter how long they have worked for the state, they will never accrue one dime of paid leave. Ever. Great way to start epidemics, I've seen departments gutted by the flu because one person came into work sick in order to be able to feed kids, pay mortgage. Eventually, you're paying the full time people to stay home because they have gotten sick too. Be an example to the rest of the employers in Virginia - offer some paid leave to everyone who works for our state.