We have. We've caught colds from grocery checkers and restaurant servers who should have stayed in bed with a bottle of NyQuil close at hand.
The New York Times (for a change) agrees with us. The newspaper supports a proposal requiring New York City businesses to provide paid sick days. San Francisco, Connecticut and the District of Columbia already do so. A Sunday Times editorial argues it's good for the public's health:More than 40 million American workers get no paid sick leave. They have to work when ill or take unpaid sick days, which can lead to financial hardship, or, worse, dismissal. The best way to address this workplace and public health problem is with a national law requiring businesses to provide paid sick leave — a normal benefit for workers in at least 145 countries.
But since there is little hope for such progress anytime soon in Washington, New York City Council members are taking up the cause. At least 36 of 50 council members support a proposed city law that would require sick leave for more than 1.2 million workers...
This benefit is also good for public health. A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that workers who could take sick leave instead of working while unwell were less likely to be hurt on the job.
American workers should have paid sick leave, and New York City could set a standard for the rest of the nation. Workers in the city deserve a sensible and humane sick-leave benefit now.
