Print ArticleFindings follow new research showing public health benefits of AB 2716.
SACRAMENTO – Three in four (73%) California voters are in favor of a law allowing all workers to earn paid sick days, according to a statewide survey released today. The poll was conducted by the Field Research Corporation for the California Center for Research on Women and Families (CCRWF), a program of the nonprofit Public Health Institute. Support for such a law crosses party lines and includes 85% of Democrats, 75% of non-partisans and 56% of Republicans.
"In the Field Research poll, there is striking public support for a paid sick days law," said Kate Karpilow, Ph.D. Executive Director of CCRWF. "Voters were quite sophisticated in their understanding that paid sick days are not only a workplace issue, but also a measure to protect the public´s health. 81% agree that guaranteeing paid sick day laws to all restaurant workers who handle food would increase the chances that workers would stay home when they get sick and not infect the public." (Poll results and graphics available at www.ccrwf.org).
"Democrats, Republicans and independents are united in support of paid sick days," said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco), author of AB 2716, a bill that would make California the first state in the country to allow all workers to earn paid sick days. "People are not robots, and voters understand that the benefits to public health far outweigh the cost," Assemblywoman Ma added. "Californians are ready for the Governor and legislators to move past the partisan gridlock and improve the state´s public health."
The survey results follow last week´s release of a report by the Human Impact Partners (HIP) and researchers at the San Francisco Department of Health showing significant positive public health impacts of AB 2716 for all Californians. According to the study entitled "Health Impact Assessment of the California Healthy Families, Healthy Workplaces Act," guaranteed paid sick days would reduce the risk of transmitting communicable diseases in restaurants and long-term care facilities.(Report available at www.humanimpact.org/PSD).
"Our research finds that this legislation would be a commonsense policy that would protect the health of all Californians," said Jonathan Heller, Executive Director of HIP and co-author of the study. "It is important for policymakers to see paid sick days not only as a labor policy but as a sensible and effective public health policy. And it is important for policymakers to fix the disconnect between known best practices to prevent disease and current sick day laws and systems."
The Field Research poll also shows that Californians agree that paid sick days legislation will benefit public health. For example, 82% of respondents agreed that paid sick day laws are a good idea because sick people may cause their coworkers and customers if they go to work. Similarly, 81% agree that guaranteeing paid sick day laws to restaurant workers would increase the chances that these workers would stay home when ill and not infect the public.
About 5.4 million Californians – more than two in five workers in the state – do not get any paid sick days. Going to work sick creates an unhealthy workplace and puts co-workers and customers at risk, but many workers have no choice. AB 2716 has already passed the California Assembly and is now being considered by the state Senate. The bill is sponsored by the California Labor Federation and California ACORN, and has the support of the California Work and Family Coalition as well as more than 50 organizations statewide. For more information, visit www.paidsickdaysCA.org.
SACRAMENTO – Three in four (73%) California voters are in favor of a law allowing all workers to earn paid sick days, according to a statewide survey released today. The poll was conducted by the Field Research Corporation for the California Center for Research on Women and Families (CCRWF), a program of the nonprofit Public Health Institute. Support for such a law crosses party lines and includes 85% of Democrats, 75% of non-partisans and 56% of Republicans.
"In the Field Research poll, there is striking public support for a paid sick days law," said Kate Karpilow, Ph.D. Executive Director of CCRWF. "Voters were quite sophisticated in their understanding that paid sick days are not only a workplace issue, but also a measure to protect the public´s health. 81% agree that guaranteeing paid sick day laws to all restaurant workers who handle food would increase the chances that workers would stay home when they get sick and not infect the public." (Poll results and graphics available at www.ccrwf.org).
"Democrats, Republicans and independents are united in support of paid sick days," said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco), author of AB 2716, a bill that would make California the first state in the country to allow all workers to earn paid sick days. "People are not robots, and voters understand that the benefits to public health far outweigh the cost," Assemblywoman Ma added. "Californians are ready for the Governor and legislators to move past the partisan gridlock and improve the state´s public health."
The survey results follow last week´s release of a report by the Human Impact Partners (HIP) and researchers at the San Francisco Department of Health showing significant positive public health impacts of AB 2716 for all Californians. According to the study entitled "Health Impact Assessment of the California Healthy Families, Healthy Workplaces Act," guaranteed paid sick days would reduce the risk of transmitting communicable diseases in restaurants and long-term care facilities.(Report available at www.humanimpact.org/PSD).
"Our research finds that this legislation would be a commonsense policy that would protect the health of all Californians," said Jonathan Heller, Executive Director of HIP and co-author of the study. "It is important for policymakers to see paid sick days not only as a labor policy but as a sensible and effective public health policy. And it is important for policymakers to fix the disconnect between known best practices to prevent disease and current sick day laws and systems."
The Field Research poll also shows that Californians agree that paid sick days legislation will benefit public health. For example, 82% of respondents agreed that paid sick day laws are a good idea because sick people may cause their coworkers and customers if they go to work. Similarly, 81% agree that guaranteeing paid sick day laws to restaurant workers would increase the chances that these workers would stay home when ill and not infect the public.
About 5.4 million Californians – more than two in five workers in the state – do not get any paid sick days. Going to work sick creates an unhealthy workplace and puts co-workers and customers at risk, but many workers have no choice. AB 2716 has already passed the California Assembly and is now being considered by the state Senate. The bill is sponsored by the California Labor Federation and California ACORN, and has the support of the California Work and Family Coalition as well as more than 50 organizations statewide. For more information, visit www.paidsickdaysCA.org.
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