A Basic Workplace Standard All New Jerseyans Deserve

• According to an August 2008 poll , 78% of Americans believe that Paid Sick Days should be a basic worker’s right guaranteed by the government.
• Only about half (51%) of all workers in the U.S. have Paid Sick Days when they get sick; even less (30%) are able to use a paid sick day to care for a sick child.

New Jersey should guarantee a minimum standard of Paid Sick Days for all workers.  No one should have to choose between caring for themselves and loved ones and getting a paycheck!

• While a number of states and cities have explored the option of guaranteeing paid sick days for their workers, there is currently no Federal law that guarantees paid sick days.
• Approximately 1.5 million workers in New Jersey (46%) do not have access to a single paid sick day.  By not having paid sick days, these workers are more likely to go to work sick, putting the health of their co-workers and public at risk.

Those most in need of paid sick days are the least likely to have them.

• Only 1 in 4 low-income workers have access to paid sick days, while they are precisely the workers that are least able to afford to take a day off without pay.
• 78% of food service and hotel workers don’t have a single paid sick day.  Workers in child care centers, retail and nursing homes also overwhelmingly lack paid sick days.
• Working women are more likely to have significant family care giving responsibilities.  In fact, 80% of mothers are primarily responsible for selecting their children’s doctors and accompanying children to appointments.  Unfortunately, being female doubles the chance of experiencing job loss because of family illness.

Guaranteed paid sick days for all would promote a healthier workforce, healthier businesses and a healthier New Jersey.

• With paid sick days, workers with chronic illnesses may avoid hospitalization by managing their health through outpatient care.  Paid Sick Days enable workers to take the time off they need for such preventative and diagnostic care, working to lower the cost of health care for NJ.
• Paid sick days minimize the spread of the flu, a highly contagious ailment that accounts for 10 to 12 percent of all illness-related work absence.
• A 2007 study by the Society of Human Resources Management showed that employee “presenteeism” (when employees go to work sick) cost employers $180 billion annually compared to only $118 billion a year for employee absenteeism.

Paid sick days will allow workers to care for their loved ones when they are sick

• Parents who have paid time off are over 5 times more likely to care for children when they are sick.
• Children get well faster when a parent cares for them. Yet, 94 million U.S. workers have no paid sick days to use to care for an ill child or other family member and, without this benefit, they cannot afford to take the time off work to care for their loved ones.

Providing paid sick days to all New Jersey workers is the right thing to do. It is also the smart thing to do. Businesses that provide paid sick days to workers to care for their own or a loved ones illness benefit from increased commitment and productivity – a win win situation for all!

Paid Sick Days PDF