More than three-quarters of workers view paid sick days as a basic right of employment that should be guaranteed by the government, according to a survey conducted by the National Opinion Research Center and funded by the Public Welfare Foundation.
About 77% of workers say having paid sick days is "very important," while 86% think that employers should be required by law to provide them. Likewise, 80% agree that part-time workers should receive sick days proportional to their working hours. Employees ranked paid sick days on a par with a minimum wage, overtime pay and family and medical leave. They considered it more important than maximum hour limits and the right to join a union, the survey indicates. The support for paid sick days crosses political and demographic lines.
More than 40% of private sector workers - and 75% of low-wage workers -- lack paid sick days. A dozen states considered legislation requiring paid sick days this year, and the issue will be on the ballot in Milwaukee and Ohio in November. Congress is considering the Healthy Families Act, which would provide seven paid sick days annually to workers in businesses with 15 or more employees. San Francisco and Washington, D.C. already have paid sick day laws in place.
About 16% of workers say they, or a family member, have 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.
In addition, 68% of workers without paid sick days reported going to work with the flu or some other contagious illness, compared to 53% of workers who received paid sick days.
Providing paid sick leave may help employers avoid the extra costs from illnesses spread at the workplace.
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