Paid Sick Days Keep You Healthy

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the poor and poorly educated-already more vulnerable to some diseases-are most likely to hold jobs without paid sick days. An NIH study found, "Lack of paid sick leave appears to be a potential barrier to obtaining preventive medical care." No paid sick leave is also linked to less screening for cancer, diabetes and other diseases that, when caught early, may have better outcomes, according to the CDC, which grants its employees 13 annual paid sick days. The debate balances on the fulcrum of economics. Employers argue that paid sick leave cuts into profitability. Proponents, backed by numerous studies, counter that the effect on profits is small, non-existent or even positive. Indeed, "presenteeism" (sick workers showing up) costs employers $180 billion annually in lost productivity. During the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic more than 8 million sick workers reported for work between September and November, according to the Institute for Womens Policy Research, and may have infected 7 million coworkers.