Got 23 Cents to Spare? That's the Cost for One Hour of Earned Sick Time

A new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics offers some great information on earned sick time throughout the US.  According to the report:

• 61 percent of all private industry workers have earned sick time
• 84 percent of all workers in the occupational group "Management, professional and related" have access to earned sick time
• 42 percent of all workers in the occupational group "Service" have access to earned sick time
• 73 percent of full-time private industry workers and 23 percent of part-time private industry workers have access to earned sick time
• 81 percent of workers in the highest wage bracket have earned sick time, compared to 33 percent in the lowest wage bracket
• In March 2009, the average cost of sick leave per employee hour worked for private-sector employers was 23 cents.
• In "Management, professional and related" the cost is 53 cents
• In "Service" the cost is only 8 cents

In Pennsylvania, 46 percent of all workers lack earned sick time.  In Philadelphia, 44 percent of all workers lack earned sick time.  How can you take action?

• Tell us your story! Email us at policy@pathwayspa.org to tell us about your experience with earned sick time.
• Sign our petition, which we will take to the Pennsylvania Legislature and to Philadelphia's City Council.
• Please call your state representative and ask him or her to ensure all workers have access to earned sick time by cosponsoring and supporting HB 1830, The Healthy Families, Healthy Workplaces Act.
• If you live in Philadelphia, please call your City Councilperson and ask him or her to ensure all workers have access to earned sick time by cosponsoring and supporting Bill No. 080474, Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces

image courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/uhuru1701/ / CC BY-SA 2.0