Building an Economy that Works for Everyone

Paid Sick Days: A better business model

Big business organizations have panned the notion of required sick leave, with the Chamber of Commerce saying that “the problem is not nearly as great as some people say,” and the National Association of Manufacturers warning that the Healthy Families Act “would impose an inflexible government mandate on employers, making it more difficult for manufacturers to preserve and create jobs.

However, lost productivity due to sick workers attending work and infecting others costs the U.S. economy $180 billion annually. For employers, the cost averages $255 per employee per year and “exceeds the cost of absenteeism and medical and disability benefits.” The National Partnership for Women and Families actually found that “while a paid sick days policy would impose modest costs, the estimated business savings total $11.69 per week per worker from lower turnover, improved productivity and reduced spread of illness.”

The Center for Economic and Policy Research has also concluded that “there is no significant relationship between national unemployment rates and legally-mandated access to paid sick days.”

“When businesses take care of their workers, they are better able to retain them, and when workers have the security of paid time off, their commitment, productivity and morale increases, and employers reap the benefits of lower turnover and training costs,” said National Partnership President Debra Ness.

  • Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

More To Read

November 1, 2024

Accessible, affordable health care must be protected

Washington’s elected leaders can further expand essential health care

September 24, 2024

Oregon and Washington: Different Tax Codes and Very Different Ballot Fights about Taxes this November

Structural differences in Oregon and Washington’s tax codes create the backdrop for very different conversations about taxes and fairness this fall

September 10, 2024

Big Corporations Merge. Patients Pay The Bill

An old story with predictable results.