NEARLY HALF OF LOCAL WORKERS LACK SICK DAYS, INCLUDING MOST FOOD WORKERS

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By Miriam Raftery

February 27, 2014 (San Diego) – Sick workers, particularly in the food service industry, pose risks to public health. But nearly half of all workers in the private sector locally lack paid sick time locally—including 80 percent of those in food service. That leaves workers a choice of coming to work sick, or losing pay.

A new analysis by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) finds that 44 percent of San Diego’s private sector employees lack access to a single earned sick day. Among Hispanic workers here, 55% lack access to earned sick days.

Earned sick days are especially uncommon in jobs that require frequent contact with the public. More than 80 percent of employees working in food services and about half of employees in the accommodation industry lack access to earned sick days.

Earned sick days allow workers to take needed time off without fear of being fired, and restore a work and family balance. Previous research shows that about half of all workers who are covered by earned sick days plans do not take any days off for illness or injury in a given year.

When used, however, this earned time allows workers and their families to obtain health care more promptly, leading to improved health outcomes, speedier recoveries, and a more productive workforce.

Employers may believe scrimping on offering sick time saves them money.  But earned sick days can reduce both business and public health costs by cutting down on the spread of disease at work, helping employers avoid losing productivity and improve workers’ morale.

“Earned sick days are an inexpensive but important tool for promoting public health, by minimizing contagion and giving workers the opportunity to seek health services or care for their families,” said Barbara Gault, Vice President and Executive Director at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.

To view the full report, click here.


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