Costco Connection - October 2011

INFORMEDdebate
YES

Should paid sick
leave be mandatory?

from members: Shirley G. Pantaleo Spokane Valley, WA

Employees [should] be permitted to stay home with a contagious illness, but [should] also [be able]

to use a sick day when a child or aged parent needs care.

Michael Baran Homer Glen, IL

Per doctor’s orders?
Absolutely. Pay for
one or pay for the
likely domino effect.

Diane Drapos Holden, MA

If you are sick you
need to recover, and
coming to work would
make others sick.

MEDIABAKERY

NO

LEGISLATION HAS BEEN introduced at the national level, as well as in several cities and states around the country, that would require employers to grant paid sick leave to their employees.

Supporters of this legislation say that paid sick leave improves productivity and workplace health, and prevents contagious diseases from spreading beyond the workplace. Workers with paid sick leave run up lower healthcare costs, they add, and employers with paid sick leave experience less employee turnover.

Critics argue that many businesses cannot afford to pay employees who do not come to work. They say mandatory paid sick leave would result in fewer wage increases, fewer hours and possible layoffs.