Paid sick days are the responsible way to prevent the spread of disease and keep everyone healthy by encouraging sick workers and children to stay home – away from co-workers, schoolmates, and customers.
Nearly 1 million people working in Washington have no paid sick leave, including:
- 170,000 in accommodation and food service
- 167,000 in retail
- 93,000 in health care and social assistance
Paid sick days ensure people can care for their health needs without losing a day’s wages, or their job. With paid sick days, people can seek preventive care and early treatment for themselves and their family members – and that keeps us all healthier.
Paid sick days also promote healthier businesses by preventing the spread of food-borne disease and boosting employee productivity and morale.
In September 2011, the City of Seattle joined the Connecticut, San Francisco, and Washington, DC in establishing minimum standard for paid leave.
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