Public health officials could not be more clear. When ordinary sniffles could be the sign of a killer flu, people who feel sick should stay home from work.

But the reality is more murky. Nearly half of all private sector employees and three-quarters of low-wage workers are not entitled to paid leave when they are sick.

That means people who prepare food, clean public places and care for children or the elderly are forced to decide between coming to work when they should stay home and losing wages or even their jobs.

The same ugly choice is also before working parents who often have to to decide whether to send a sick child to school.

A bill now before Congress would address that by requiring companies with 15 or more employees to guarantee employees one hour off for sick leave, for themselves or to care for a dependent, for every 30 hours worked. That would add up to seven days per year for full-time workers.

We opposed a similar bill when it was before the Maine Legislature last year because we felt it would put our state at a competitive disadvantage. But we support a federal requirement, because it puts everyone on an equal footing.

The bill could be improved through the legislative process. Five sick days, for instance, may be more in line with what employers who already offer sick leave provide and would be an acceptable maximum for full-time workers.

But we support the concept that people should stay home when they feel sick and believe that it should be guaranteed in federal labor law.

This is not only an issue of fairness for workers, but also a matter of public health.