Americans Get Fewer Paid Sick Days Than Two Decades Ago

For workers who are fortunate enough to get paid sick days at all, are now getting fewer days from their employers than previous years. While workers are reporting more vacation days in 2012 compared to 1992-1993, the overall number of days available is fewer.

Of course, many workers still don’t have any access to paid sick leave at all: About 40 percent of private sector workers can’t take a paid day off to care for themselves or a family member when illness strikes, including 80 percent of low-income workers.

Cities and states across the country are trying to address this issue, and some have succeeded. New York City, Seattle, San Francisco, Washington D.C, Portland, and the state of Connecticut all have laws that require most employees to receive a minimum amount of paid sick days per year.

Efforts in Philadelphia and the states of Massachusetts and New Jersey, among others, are ongoing.