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Many Wisconsinites Lack Paid Sick Time

By 9 to 5 National Association of Working Women

Only 59% of workers, in Wisconsin, have paid sick days. This leaves over 1.1 million Wisconsinites without a sickness policy to recover and not lose pay, when they or a child is sick.(1) A statewide policy could solve this public health threat.

• Without sick days, Wisconsin’s public health is in danger. For example, over 85% of the restaurant industry does not have paid sick time. During a 5 year period (2003–2007) there were 3,187 reported cases of outbreak food-bourne illness in Wisconsin, which led to 112 hospitalizations and 3 deaths. 93% of these cases occurred in public places where food was prepared or served by food workers, including restaurants, catered events, schools, recreational facilities, prisons, and nursing homes.(2)
• Paid sick days would make it more feasible for all working families to address a child’s illness, including asthma. In Wisconsin, over 1 in 11 children have asthma and as of 2009, Milwaukee is the second highest asthmatic city in the nation. (3) Wisconsin school children who have an asthma attack miss more school then their peers. One in four parents of a child with asthma has missed one of their child’s medical appointments because they could not take time off work. Parents who have paid time off are five times more likely to care for children when they are sick and 38% of parents in poverty lack paid sick leave.(4)
• Wisconsin has led the nation in H1N1 (swine flu) cases. More then a third of flu cases are transmitted at school or in a workplace. (2) The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends to “stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick.” A Harvard study released in July illustrated the stress regarding working without sick time. More then half the parents were concerned about loss of pay if their child contracted the flu. Over 40% of people who were not parents were concerned about their loss of pay if they contracted the flu. Communities of color were more concerned about their loss of pay or job loss, if they needed time to recover from the flu (5).
• Wisconsin social service providers are reporting an elevation of domestic violence complaints during this economic downturn. Women regularly report that they are unable to flee their situation without jeopardizing their job. Paid sick time could include safe time to seek services to live a violence-free life, like filing a restraining order.
• Wisconsin could lead the nation as a public health leader and become the first state to adopt a paid sick time policy. Milwaukee voters have made it clear, by voting by nearly 70% to pass paid sick time. If implemented, workers would save 1 million a year in health care costs and savings to employers would total 38 million annually. (6) Research shows that job growth has been strong where paid sick time is law.(7) Nationally, the Healthy Family Act was cosponsored by President Obama and Vice-President Biden, while Senators. The US is the last industrialized nation to not have any paid leave. The bill is picking up steam in the House and the Senate in 2009.

To get more info on how to support the Wisconsin statewide initiative, contact 9to5 at 414–274–0925 or email wipaidsicktime@9to5.org today.