Washington, D.C. — No worker should have to make the decision between economic security and taking care of their health or the health of a loved one. A new CAP issue brief, makes the case for why passing a guaranteed right to paid sick time would strengthen public health and boost the economy.
Today, nearly 1 in 4 private sector workers—28 million workers—don’t have access to a single paid sick day. This has forced workers to have to choose between their health or the health of a loved one and their economic security. A federal guarantee to a universal right to paid sick time would alleviate that impossible choice millions of workers face. This issue brief breaks down how paid sick time would advance public health and have positive implications for businesses. Some of the benefits for public health and businesses outlined in this issue brief include:
- Increasing the likelihood that workers will go to health care providers, undergo preventative cancer screening, and receive the annual flu vaccine
- Reducing the number of trips to emergency rooms
- Increasing the likelihood workers will stay home when they are sick and reduce the spread of illnesses
- Boosting workers productivity, decreasing turnover in the workplace, and helping create a more stable and productive workforce
“Guaranteeing paid sick leave ensures that people can get the care they need or care for a loved one without risking their economic security. To ensure that workers don’t have to make this impossible decision, Congress must pass the Healthy Families Act to guarantee the right to paid sick time to support workers and strengthen public health and our economy,” said Bela Salas-Betsch, research associate for the Women’s Initiative and author of the issue brief.
Read the issue brief: “Universal Paid Sick Time Would Strengthen Public Health and Benefit Businesses” by Bela Salas-Betsch
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sarah Nadeau at [email protected].