Every day New Yorkers are forced to choose between a paycheck and caring for their own health and/or a sick family member. Millions of New Yorkers do not have a single paid day off for illness a year. This lack of paid sick time comes with a cost -- not just to those workers, but also to their families, to businesses, to public health, to children and to seniors.
- In New York City, 65% of the working poor have no paid sick days.
- Only 39% of full time workers are permitted to use sick days for doctor visits.
THE LACK OF PAID SICK DAYS HURTS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
No parent should have to make a choice between caring for their sick child and a day’s pay, but:
- Only 35% of full time employees with sick days are permitted to use them to care for a sick child
- 49% of working mothers report that they must stay home when their children are sick, but half of them report that they must lose a day’s pay in order to do so
Despite the evidence that children fare better in school and recover faster from serious illnesses and medical emergencies if their parents can spend time helping them recuperate, the lack of paid sick days leaves parents in New York City with few options. Many are forced to send children to school sick, infecting other children and teachers.
Nearly two-thirds of Americans under the age of 60 expect to be responsible for the care of an elderly relative within the next ten years. Seventy percent of caregivers for elderly relatives work full time. When a caregiver cannot take time off, the elderly may have their health issues increase in severity due to neglect or e forced into short term nursing situations, at an average cost of $158 per day. 1
A FUNDAMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURE
Sick workers can bring infectious diseases into the workplace.The Centers for Disease Control recommends hat individuals who are ill “stay home from work and school” to prevent the spread of disease in the workplace and community. 2 Allowing workers with contagious diseases to avoid unnecessary contact with coworkers and customers is a fundamental public health measure.
Disproportionately sick workers employed in food service, nursing homes, child care centers, and the retail industry risk spreading contagion to the public. The risk of contagion increases when ill workers have high levels of contact with the public yet for example only 16% of restaurant workers in New York City have paid sick days. 3 Additionally sick workers are more likely to have an accident on the job 4 When workers can take needed time off without fear of being fired, the result is improved health outcomes, speedier recoveries for workers and their families, reduced total health-care spending and a decreased risk of the outbreak of a public health hazard
THE BUSINESS CASE FOR FAMILY RESPONSIVE POLICES
Paid sick days are not only responsive to the changing demographics of the American workplace but also serve the enlightened self-interest of business. Paid sick days can actually enhance a business’ bottom line. When workers are provided with paid sick time, they demonstrate increased job satisfaction, commitment, and morale, and their employers reap the benefits of high performance and productivity. Studies show that productivity of workers with even minor illnesses goes down in comparison to the productivity of their healthy co-workers 5 The spread of contagion further compounds this loss of productivity.
Employees with paid sick days are less likely to leave their jobs. 6 The costs of replacing workers are extremely high. Replacing a salaried worker typically costs 40% to 75% of the employee’s annual salary. Recruitment involves a complex process that consumes valuable staff time with screening, interviewing, selection, and on-the-job training, for example the average employee replacement cost for an $8 per hour worker exceeds $5,500. 7 If return on investment is ultimately the bottom line for businesses then these investments in employees can produce attractive returns.
THE SOLUTION
The lack of paid sick days in New York City threatens the economic security of working families who cannot afford to lose a day’s pay or risk loss of their job. It is important to adapt family-responsive policies like Paid Sick Days before the work-family conflicts experienced by an escalating number of Americans reach crisis level. New York City can and should pass a law requiring employers to provide paid sick time for their employees. Under their local home rule power the City Council of New York City has the authority to require employers in the City to provide paid sick days.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Frequently Asked Questions About Paid Sick Time in New York City (PDF)
- New Report: San Francisco Paid Sick Days Legislation Benefits Employers and Employees
- Summary of Key Provisions (PDF)
- Paid Sick Leave Does Not Harm Employment
- SICK IN THE CITY: What the Lack of Paid Leave Means for Working New Yorkers (PDF)
- If You Care, Eat Here": NYC Dining Guide to High Road Restaurants
- Paid Sick Time -- An Essential Benefit for All New Yorkers
- When Employees Work Sick Public Health is Jeopardized
- Paid Sick Days Benefit Children & Families
- Healthy Businesses Need Healthy People
- Top Ten Reasons to Support Paid Sick Days
1 Lovell V. (2006). Valuing Good Health in San Francisco: The Costs and Benefits of a Proposed Paid Sick Days Policy. Institute for Women’s Policy Research Report #B252.
2 Centers for Disease Control website: www.cdc.gov
3 Behind the Kitchen Door, ROC-NY, Jan. 2005.
4 Sorock, G.S., et al. (2004). “A case-crossover study of transient risk factors for occupational acute hand injury”. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 61:305-311
5 Smith, A. (1989). “A Review of the Effects of Colds and Influenza on Human Performance.” Journal of the Society of Occupational Medicine. 39: 65-68.
6 (Lovell V. (2005). Valuing Good Health: An Estimate of Costs and Savings for the Healthy Families Act. Washington D.C.: Institute for Women ‘s Policy Research.)
7 Sasha Corporation, Compilation of Turnover Cost Studies: $8.00 per hour employee in the USA.
