Workers Overwhelmingly Support Paid Sick Day Mandate, Survey Says 

More than three-fourths of workers (77 percent) said that paid sick days are "very important," and 86 percent believed that paid sick days should be required by law, according to a survey conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago on behalf of the Washington, DC-based Public Welfare Foundation (PWF).

Respondents rated paid sick days as being as important as the minimum wage, overtime pay, and family and medical leave. At least 80 percent considered it a basic worker's right and a basic workplace standard, according to PWF.

Support for paid sick days, including paid sick days prorated for part-time employees, was strong across all political and demographic lines, but particularly among women, African-Americans, Hispanics, and low-income workers. Workers lacking paid sick days are significantly more likely than workers with paid sick days to report to work sick, including with contagious colds and flu.

More than 40 percent of private-sector workers and 75 percent of low-wage workers lack paid sick days. San Francisco and Washington, DC, are the only jurisdictions with paid sick day laws in place, although a dozen states have considered such legislation this year, with voters in Milwaukee weighing the issue in November. In response to lobbying by business groups, Ohio recently postponed a referendum on paid sick day legislation.

More states are expected to consider paid sick day legislation next year. Congress is considering the Healthy Families Act, which would provide seven paid sick days annually to workers in businesses with 15 or more employees.

The PWF survey also revealed the following observations:

• One in six workers reported that he or she or a family member had been fired, suspended, punished, or threatened with being fired for taking time off due to personal illness or to care for a sick child or other relative.
• Sixty-eight percent of workers without paid sick days reported going to work with the flu or some other contagious illness, compared to 53 percent of workers who received paid sick days.
• Survey respondents rated concern about sick employees spreading diseases at work as the most convincing argument for paid sick day legislation.

To obtain a copy of the survey, “Paid Sick Days: A Basic Labor Standard for the 21st Century,” visit http://www.norc.uchicago.edu EXE:  http://www.norc.uchicago.edu.

Reprinted with permission. © CCH

 Workers lacking paid sick days are significantly more likely than workers with paid sick days to report to work sick, including with contagious colds and flu.