Paid Sick Days : Progress That’s Possible

1. Paid Sick Days: Progress That’s Possible Vicki Shabo Director of Work and Family Programs YEO National Convening Washington, D.C. June 21, 2012

2. About us The National Partnership for Women & Families is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy group dedicated to promoting fairness in the workplace, access to quality health care and policies that help women and men meet the dual demands of work and family. More information is available at www.NationalPartnership.org.

3. 2011 Paid Sick Days Victories • Connecticut • Seattle • First Step in Philadelphia

4. Paid Sick Days Timeline • 2004: Healthy Families Act (federal) introduced • 2006: San Francisco (successful ballot initiative) • 2008: Ohio (ballot initiative qualified, later withdrawn) • 2008: Washington, D.C. (legislative win) • 2008: Milwaukee (initiative passed, but preempted in by statute in 2011) • 2010: New York City (majority City Council support, speaker refuses to allow vote) • June 2011: Connecticut (legislative win) • September 2011: Seattle (legislative win) • October 2011: Philadelphia living wage amendment (legislative win) • November 2011: Denver (ballot initiative defeated in off-year election)

5. 40 Million Workers: No Paid Sick Time Percent of Private Sector Workers Without Access to Paid Sick Time Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (7/2011)

6. Urgent Need, Significant Consequences • 44 million:number of workers without paid sick days, millions more without paid sick days to care for a child or family member • 79 percent of lowest wage workers – no paid sick days vs. 13 percent of highest wage workers. • 3.5 days:number of unpaid days off that jeopardize a family’s monthly grocery budget • 23 percent:share of U.S. adult population thathas experienced or been threatened with job loss for taking a sick day

7. Lack of Paid Sick Days Means More Sick People at Work or School Responses among parents with children under 18 Responses among adults overall 1.5 times more likely 2.15 times more likely Source: NORC/University of Chicago poll (6/2010)

8. Workers Without Paid Sick Days are More Likely to Go to the ER Responses among adults overall Responses among parents with children under 18 2 times more likely 5 times more likely Source: NORC/University of Chicago poll (6/2010)

9. Economic and Health Repercussions • Workers lose pay and risk job loss. • 23 percent have lost a job or been threatened with job loss because of personal or family illness. • Contagious illnesses spread through workplaces, schools, and day cares. • 8 million people worked sick during just 3 months of the H1N1 pandemic, infecting an estimated 7 million co-workers. • Two-thirds of restaurant workers and cooks report working sick.

10. Fiscal Consequences • Delayed/forgone preventive care and ER overuse increase health care costs. • Estimated $1.1 billion in unnecessary ER costs attributed to lack of paid sick days, with half accruing to public programs like Medicaid, SCHIP • Business productivity suffers. • $160 billion/year in lost productivity through “presenteeism” • Unemployment leads to reduced consumer spending and higher public program usage. • Average unemployed person searches for new work for 40 weeks.

11. Paid Sick Days Benefit Us All • Reduced contagion: Sick workers with paid sick days are more likely to stay home. • Reduced health care costs: Workers with paid sick days are less likely to use ERs as an alternative to regular care ($1.1 billion savings per year). • Better health: Workers and families are healthier when they have time to seek preventive care. • Increased business productivity: Paid sick days reduce presenteeism, lower turnover. • Vibrant economy: Job security and receipt of wages boost consumer spending.

12. San Francisco: Paid Sick Days Leader • Job and business growth in San Francisco exceeded surrounding five counties. • 2/3 of the city’s employers now support the law. • Few employer implementation problems. “Best policy at the least cost” ~ Golden Gate Restaurant Association

13. Paid Sick Time: Low Cost to Employers Among Private Sector Workers 1.1% of total compensation, yet 86% have access now .6 of 1% of total compensation, yet only 42% have access now Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Program Perspectives (3/2010)

14. Paid Sick Days Laws Engender Broad Public Support Do youfavor or oppose a law guaranteeing all workers a minimum number of paid sick days to care for themselves or immediate family members? 75% Net Favor: 51% 24% Red = strongly favor/oppose Orange = somewhat favor/oppose Source: NORC/U. Chicago (6/2010)

15. Women, African Americans & Older People are Particularly Supportive Do youfavor or oppose a law guaranteeing all workers a minimum number of paid sick days to care for themselves or immediate family members? % Strongly/Somewhat Favor Source: NORC/University of Chicago poll (6/2010) 15

16. Support Extends Across All Partisan Groups Do you favor or oppose a law guaranteeing all workers a minimum number of paid sick days to care for themselves or immediate family members? Source: NORC/U. Chicago (6/2010)

17. Pro-Paid Sick Days Candidates Rewarded, Anti-Paid Sick Days Candidates Punished If a candidate for elected office came out in support of/opposition to paid sick days for all workers, would that make you more or less likely to vote for that candidate? Candidate who supports paid sick days +18 net more likely to vote for 42% 24% -23 net less likely to vote for Candidate who opposes paid sick days 43% 20% Much/Somewhat less likely to vote for (darker=much more) Much/Somewhat more likely to vote for (darker=much more) Source: NORC/University of Chicago poll (6/2010)

18. Voters in Cities and States Across the U.S. Support Paid Sick Days Source: Anzalone Liszt Research (2011), Hart Research (2011), Kiley Research (2010, 2011)

19. Total favor Total oppose Connecticut Voters Support Paid Sick Days Law, Across Political Spectrum Do you favor or oppose Connecticut’s new law that allows service workers in businesses with 50 or more employees to earn up to five paid sick days each year? All Voters Key Subgroups 73% Strongly 47% 19% Strongly 19% Favor Oppose Demo- crats Inde- pendents Repub- licans Women Men Source: Hart Research (7/2011)

20. Somewhat agree Disagree Strongly agree Paid Sick Days = On Voters’ Side Do you agree or disagree that this describes elected officials/organizations that support the new paid sick days law? Protecting public health by helping sick workers stay home Standing up for people like me and people I care about More likely to be in touch with the real-life challenges of working people and families .On the right side on balancing needs of employers/employees More likely to share my values 72% 66% 62% 60% 54% Source: Hart Research (7/2011)

21. More favorable toward supporting them Less favorable toward supporting them Paid Sick Days = Electeds’ Favorability in the Next Election As you may know, your [state senator/state representative] voted [for/against] Connecticut's new paid sick days law: Does knowing this make you more or less favorable toward supporting them in the next election? State House Member State Senator +32 +41 -31 -32 Senator voted for law Senator voted against law Rep voted for law Rep voted against law Source: Hart Research (7/2011)

22. Paid Sick Days = Voter Engagement Vehicle When issues like paid sick days that have a direct impact on people are discussed as part of campaigns and elections, does it make you more or less likely to pay attention and want to be involved? More Likely Income under $50,000 Women Non-college graduates 69% 69% 68% Source: Hart Research (7/2011)

23. MORE likely: Much more Somewhat more Key Groups are Particularly Likely to be Engaged by Paid Sick Days When issues like paid sick days that have a direct impact on people are discussed as part of campaigns and elections, does it make you more or less likely to pay attention and want to be involved? 72% Union members 69% Women 68% Non-white Earn less than $50K/year 70% Source: Hart Research (7/2011)

24. MORE favorable: LESS favorable: Much more Somewhat more Much less Somewhat less Paid Sick Days = Good for Union Image Labor unions in Connecticut have taken the following positions on various issues: In each case, does this give you a more or less favorable view of labor unions? Union households 77%18% 81%17% 75%19% 42%49% 75% Supporting legislation to provide workers with a public option for health insurance Supporting paid sick days legislation Negotiating for union contracts that improve pay, health care, and retirement benefits for union members Fighting efforts to limit unions’ ability to organize and negotiate 19% 72% 23% 62% 31% 43% 46% Source: Hart Research (7/2011)

25. Right time 90% 65% 52% Wrong time 9% 33% 47% Democrats Independents Republicans Right time/more important than ever Wrong time/unnecessary mandate Not sure Paid Sick Days = Strengthening Middle-Class Families With which view of the new paid sick day law do you agree more? Right Time: At a time when working people need to be able to keep their jobs and support their families, the new paid sick days law is more important than ever. Workers are vulnerable now and cannot afford to lose income or risk being fired simply because they have the flu or a child needs medical care. Rebuilding the middle class and strengthening families' economic security requires common-sense protections like paid sick days. Wrong Time: The new paid sick days law imposes an unnecessary mandate on businesses at a time when the economy continues to perform poorly and jobs are scarce. When government imposes requirements on business, costs rise and businesses struggle. Even those who support the principle of providing paid sick days worry that now is not the right time to impose these new requirements. Source: Hart Research (7/2011)

26. Vulnerabilities… and Answers • Job killer… businesses will leave • Evidence from San Francisco refutes • Employees most likely to lack PSD are in service businesses which can’t relocate • Now isn’t the time – will hurt small business • Evidence from San Francisco, small business testimony refutes • Costs are negligible compared to other costs of doing business • Policies take small business concerns into account • Employee abuse • No evidence in SF or private sector nationwide: workers with PSD use many fewer than they earn • Laws include safeguards against abuse • Improper role of government • When corporate interests care more about the 1% than the 99%, government is needed (e.g., minimum wage, child labor, overtime)

27. Vulnerabilities: Threats to Local Authority • 2011: Wisconsinpreempts Milwaukee paid sick days ordinance • Response to Milwaukee ordinance victory in state court • 2012: Louisianapreempts local authority to enact paid sick days laws • Flew under the radar of progressive groups, municipal association and local authorities • Passed Senate 37-0 • Passed House with only 4 “no” votes • Signed by Governor Jindal • Expect to see more preemption efforts on paid sick days and other workers’ rights and health policies going forward.

28. Paid Sick Days in 2012: State/Local Legislation and Campaigns Iowa

29. Paid Sick Days in 2012: Active Campaigns • Massachusetts (statewide) • New York City (veto-proof City Council majority) • Philadelphia (passed City Council in 2011, vetoed by mayor – will try again in 2012) • Florida (Orlando area, Miami) • Oregon (Portland area) • YOUR CITY!

30. Alternative Pathways • Requirements for city contractors • Living wage ordinances • Executive action • Community benefits agreements/creating “good jobs” with taxpayer dollars • Paid sick days for specific segments of workers

31. Conclusion: Paid Sick Days Now • Popularity of paid sick days policies make PSD an attractive issue for strategic progressive fights • Dovetails with both workers’ rights and health messaging and policy efforts • Low cost to government, high value to working families • Has potential to boost turnout among voters sympathetic to labor and other progressive fights • Has potential to benefit supportive elected officials/candidates

32. For More Information Contact me: Vicki Shabo Director of Work and Family Programs vshabo@nationalpartnership.org 202-986-2600 Follow us: www.facebook.com/nationalpartnership www.twitter.com/npwf www.twitter.com/paidsickdays Find us: www.NationalPartnership.org www.PaidSickDays.org