As student workers, our labor keeps Berea College running every day. Just like anyone else, we can get sick or face circumstances that make time off of labor essential. As it currently stands, this can easily lead to us falling behind on hours and losing pay we rely on. We believe no one should have to choose between working when they shouldn't and falling behind because of circumstances beyond their control. Just as faculty and staff have a clear sick time policy to accommodate this, so should we. We need clear and accessible avenues to receive sick time. We believe that our following demands would better support student workers as we contribute to our community, manage academics, and preserve our health in the long-term. We, the United Student Workers of Berea, demand that President Cheryl Nixon work with the Financial Aid and Labor Program offices to:

• Produce a clear, openly accessible, and written procedure for excusing hours without pay from the semesterly labor requirement due to: illness (physical or mental), chronic health conditions, bereavement, campus closure, or childcare responsibilities. This should include specifically what types of documentation are required, and who to send it to.
  
  

• Develop a system wherein all student workers receive eight hours of paid sick leave per 160 hours, similar to full-time college staff and in which these hours count towards the student’s semesterly hour requirement.
  
  

• All these policies should be finalized or have a clear timeline to be finalized by the end of the Spring 2025 semester.