New Study Finds Offering Paid Sick Leave is Good for U.S. Business
Florida Atlantic UniversityA study that systematically reviewed 22 years of research examining the relationship between paid sick leave benefits and short-term and long-term U.S. business outcomes finds a trove of evidence suggesting paid sick leave is linked with favorable business outcomes. Key findings show access to paid sick leave means less occupational injury, spread of contagious disease, presenteeism (the act of workers going to work while ill), and employee death. There was more evidence that paid sick leave was related to favorable business conditions such as employee morale and job satisfaction, improved retention, higher profitability and firm performance, and favorable labor market conditions, compared to evidence supporting negative business consequences, such as worker absence.