Fitzgibbons: Paid sick days for all

There is a chance to end the injustice this year. Somerville State Sen. Pat Jehlen and Newton’s own State Rep. Kay Khan are the lead sponsors of a bill that will require all employers to provide their employees with seven paid sick days per year. The bill is important to the health and financial well-being of families, and to the public health at large.

 

It is also balanced and fair for businesses. Employers wouldn’t have to provide more than seven days to their employees, and they would be allowed to make sure employees are using blocks of time off for legitimate medical reasons. These reasons include health conditions that require staying at home, doctor visits, or caring for a sick family member.

 

Sen. Jehlen, Rep. Khan and their colleagues have been building momentum for this initiative for several years. Sen. Ted Kennedy strongly supported this proposal, as does his wife today. Governor Deval Patrick has joined scores of other legislators and organizations that represent working families to ask that paid sick days become law in Massachusetts. However, concerns within the business community jeopardize this bill.

 

Skeptical employers should think carefully about the potential benefits. “Presenteeism”—the act of coming to work while sick—costs employers nationwide $180 billion in lost productivity when illness spreads through the workforce. This far exceeds the cost of absenteeism. Offering the benefit of paid sick leave will help businesses retain employees, reduce costs associated with hiring and training personnel, and protect customers. The Institute for Women’s Policy Research estimates that paid sick leave legislation will help Massachusetts businesses annually save $130 million from increased productivity and $348 million from reduced employee turnover.

 

Businesses that provide health care benefits to their employees should be ardent supporters of this legislation. Their costs are being driven up in part by employers that do not offer paid sick days—their employees get sicker and spread illness faster, resulting in costly doctor visits and hospitalizations. According to the Massachusetts Division of Health Care Finance and Policy, an estimated 47 percent of emergency room visits could be avoided by improving access to preventive care.

 

Discussion about business is not complete without mentioning you, the consumer. Every day your health is impacted by the people with whom you do business—people who pack your groceries, serve your lunch, fill your prescriptions, and watch your children. The well-being of the individuals who provide you with important services should be something you can count on.

 

No one should have to choose between health and financial security, and no one should have to worry about a sick server sneezing in their soup because they can’t take the day off. You can help solve this problem. Get involved with Sen. Jehlen’s and Rep. Khan’s efforts to pass this legislation. Talk with business owners about the benefits of paid sick leave. Write a letter to the editor, call your chamber of commerce, or share information in your online community. If you are a small business owner, give the upsides of this proposed legislation careful thought; talk with your customers and employees to see if you can find a way to make it work.

 

There is a reason why Massachusetts leads the nation as a great place to live and work—its leaders are guided by Democratic values, they advocate for all residents in a way that makes our Commonwealth strong and vibrant. It’s time to do the right thing by providing sick days for all working families.