Working families without paid sick leave are twice as likely to delay or forego medical care, according to a new report. (Sidney de Almeida/iStockphoto)
Eric Galatas,WYOMING NEWS SERVICE – According to a new study, workers without paid sick leave are three times more likely to delay or forego medical care, which can have implications for public safety. 
One example can be found in the Chipotle restaurant chain. It recently closed a Boston-area restaurant after four employees got sick.
Last year, the embattled company began offering paid sick leave, and the study from Florida Atlantic University says that’s a smart business move.
LeaAnne DeRigne, the study’s lead author, says the U.S. lags behind 22 other countries that make employers provide paid sick days.
“What research has shown is that workers with paid sick leave, who are able to recuperate, are actually more productive than, you know, workers who are on the job ill,” she points out. “I think that we’re really starting to see where it makes business sense to give your employees paid sick leave.”
DeRigne says timely care is important for making sure health conditions don’t worsen, ending up costing a lot more than a day’s wages.
Only four states – California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Oregon – require employers to offer paid sick benefits. DeRigne says that leaves 49 million workers without sick days.
She says when workers in jobs dealing with the public – such as child care, retail and food service – show up to work sick, it can create public health issues.
“We don’t want people serving us burritos who have the flu,” he states. “And if you’re going to pick up a bowl of soup somewhere, you really hope that the person who made that is not ill at work.
“We want them home, self-quarantining, so that we’re not all passing germs to one another.”
DeRigne says keeping sick children out of school helps keep other children from getting sick, so workers need paid time off to stay home with children.
The study found people in low-wage jobs without benefits are most vulnerable, and sick workers are also more prone to injuries and making mistakes.