Businesses benefit most from providing sick leave

Many of Americans must choose between a paycheck and recovery when they get the flu, break a bone or need to care for an ailing child or spouse or parent. Yet, when they do go to work ill, they create even more cost than benefit to their employers.

Cornell University’s Institute for Health and Productivity Studies found that “presenteeism” costs U.S. industry $180 billion a year in lost productivity. That price exceeds the total cost of absenteeism, medical and disability benefits.

University of Chicago economists estimated in a 2002 study that California employers could actually save $89 million in turnover costs by providing paid family leave, the Center for Law and Social Policy report “Getting Punched: Job and Family Clock” shows.

 Photo by Rachel Strossel

One worker's story

“I worked for a temp agency that placed me with a factory. After a year of working there full-time as a parts ticker, they decided to hire me as a permanent worker, but I wasn’t given any paid sick days for three more months.”

“Then one day, I got really sick with a high fever, and I became dehydrated. I was rushed to the emergency room and got hooked up to an IV. The next day, I wanted to go back to work, but my doctor said I was too contagious.”

“I was so worried I’d get fired, that I went back anyway. I was still sick and nearly passed out, so I had to leave. I was fired.”

Tiffany Haney, Georgia*

* “10 Things That Could Happen to You if You Didn’t Have Paid Sick Days," courtesy of 9to5, National Association of Working Women. 

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