76 percent of food service workers lack access to paid sick days in US

As the Vermont Legislature ponders a bill to require paid sick leaves to all employees, a newanalysisby theInstitute for Women's Policy Research(IWPR) finds that access to paid sick days is unequally distributed across the US population, with substantial differences by race/ethnicity, occupation, earnings, and employment status. Analyzing the National Health Interview Survey, IWPRfoundthat 61 percent of private sector employees had access to paid sick days in 2012, up from 57 percent in 2009; yet, 41 million workers still lack access.
Lack of paid sick days is especially common in certain jobs requiring frequent contact with the public, with important public health implications. Less than a quarter (24 percent) of employees in Food Preparation and Serving Related occupations, and less than a third (31 percent) of workers in Personal Care and Service occupations have access to sick days with pay.
"Workers who have close contact with the public, such as home care aides and restaurant workers, rarely have access to paid sick days," saidBarbara Gault, Vice President and Executive Director of IWPR. "Expanding access to this important benefit is in everyone's interest."
Hispanic workers aremuch less likelyto have paid sick days than black, white, and Asian workers. Fewer than half (47 percent) of Hispanic workers inthe United Stateshave access to paid sick days, compared with 64 percent of white workers, 62 percent of black workers, and 66 percent of Asian workers.
The economic and public health benefits of paid sick leave coverage are substantial, including safer work environments, improved work-life balance, reduced health care costs for workers, reduced contagion, and lower turnover costs for employers.
In 2011,Connecticutbecame the first state to pass a state-wide paid sick days law. Currently,Washington,Vermont,Maryland,Oregon,New Jersey,California, andIllinoisare among the states where legislators are weighing state-wide bills. A number of U.S. cities have passed paid sick days laws, includingNew York City,Washington DC, andSan Francisco.
The Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR)is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that conducts rigorous research and disseminates its findings to address the needs of women and their families, promote public dialogue, and strengthen communities and societies.
SOURCE WASHINGTON,March 4, 2014/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Institute for Women's Policy Research