The battle over paid sick leave is heating up. But with so many companies already offering it, is the battle already over?
Should paid sick leave be required by law? Once again, this benefit is making headlines as members of Congress, state legislatures and even city councils present proposed legislation to make sick leave mandatory. While more than eight out of ten large companies already offer paid sick leave, fewer small businesses do. There seems to be a direct correlation between the size of a business and whether it offers paid sick leave.
Supporters believe that paid sick leave should be a right that all workers enjoy. After all, it’s bad news for everyone when an employee shows up to work with the flu, especially in retail or food service companies. A recent study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that on average, workers at companies that offer paid sick leave take between two and four days of leave per year, so its not abusive.
Opponents argue that any increased requirements to provide benefits to employees will cost business owners money at a time when the economy still isn’t doing well. Paid sick leave isn’t an investment that leads to more jobs or sales expansion. It also contains many hidden costs: replacement workers to fill-in for sick workers or shift extension, which leads to overtime pay.
