Survey Examines Issue Of Paid Sick Days Among Employees, Finds Wide Range Of Support

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 05 Sep 2008 - 7:00 PST

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More than three-quarters of workers questioned in a national survey view paid sick days as a basic right of employment that should be guaranteed by the government, according to a survey recently conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago and funded by the Public Welfare Foundation, Working Mother reports. In addition, the survey found that one out of six workers reported that they or a family member had been fired, threatened with being fired, suspended or punished for taking time off because of personal illness or to care for a sick child or relative.

Having paid sick days was considered "very important" by 77% of respondents, and 86% of those polled said employers should be required by law to provide them. Respondents also ranked paid sick days as being as important as receiving minimum wage, overtime pay, and family and medical leave. They also considered it more important than maximum hour limits and the right to join a union. According to the survey, 68% of workers without paid sick days go to work with the flu or some other contagious illness, compared with 53% of workers who receive paid sick days. Respondents said concern about sick employees spreading diseases at work is the most convincing argument for paid sick days legislation.

Strong support for paid sick days crosses all political and demographic lines and includes approval of pro-rated paid sick leave for part-time workers, according to the survey. It also found that people are considerably more likely to vote for a candidate who supports paid sick days for all workers. About 46% of respondents said they are more likely to vote for a candidate who supports paid sick days and 10% said they would be less likely to do so. Tom Smith, a senior fellow at NORC, said, "Supporting paid sick days is a plus for political candidates," adding, "Both before and after hearing arguments for and against paid sick days, voters indicate they are more likely to vote for a candidate who backed this requirement."

According to Working Mother, 40% of private sector workers and 75% of low-wage workers lack paid sick days. San Francisco and Washington, D.C., are the only jurisdictions that mandate paid sick days; however, a dozen states considered such legislation this year, and the issue will be on the ballot in Milwaukee and Ohio in November. Working Mother also reports that debate on the issue is expected to be taken up in more states next year, as well as by Congress when it considers the Healthy Families Act, which would provide seven paid sick days annually to workers in businesses with 15 or more employees.

Deborah Leff, president of the Public Welfare Foundation, said, "The lack of paid sick days has real consequences for Americans forced to choose between losing a day's pay or going to work sick," adding, "It's difficult for employees to be productive when they are not well. They also expose co-workers and customers to illness. Providing paid sick day -- which this survey shows is favored by the vast majority of Americans -- is a simple matter of good employer practice and good public health" (Working Mother, 9/3).

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