Assembly Committee Approves Paid Sick Days Legislation
Asian Week, April 11, 2008
SACRAMENTO – The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee passed the Healthy Families, Healthy Workplaces Act, AB 2716, on Wednesday that would allow workers to earn paid sick days that can be used to recover from illness, care for a sick family member, or recover from domestic violence or sexual assault.
“Healthy workers create a healthy economy,” said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, who introduced the Act. “AB 2716 will benefit not only workers, but California employers through the cost savings of maintaining a healthy workplace.”
Right now, nearly six million Californians lack paid sick days. Those workers can lose a day’s wages or even risk their jobs if they stay home to recover from illness or care for their children. Alternatively, they may go to work sick which poses a hazard to public health as they can pass flu or other diseases to co-workers.
Poll Shows California Voters Support Paid Sick Days Law
Three in four (73 percent) California voters are in favor of a law allowing all workers to earn paid sick days, according to a statewide survey released on August 5, 2008. The poll was conducted by the Field Research Corporation for the California Center for Research on Women and Families (CCRWF), a program of the nonprofit Public Health Institute. Support for such a law crosses party lines and includes 85 percent of Democrats, 75 percent of non-partisans and 56 percent of Republicans.
CA Paid Sick Days Bill Will Boost Public Health: New Report
A research report released on July 30, 2008 shows that the proposed California paid sick days legislation will have significant positive public health impacts. The report entitled A Health Impact Assessment of the California Healthy Families, Healthy Workplaces Act of 2008 was produced by Human Impact Partners and researchers at the San Francisco Department of Health.
» Report Summary 
» Full Report
Valuing Good Health in California: The Costs and Benefits of the Healthy Families, Healthy Workplaces Act of 2008
Executive Summary
Full Report
Testimony on the Healthy Families, Healthy Workplaces Act
Rajiv Bhatia, MD, MPH
Online Rally for Healthy Families
Call on Congress to support paid sick days! Share your own story about why paid sick days are important to you and your family!
August 5, 2008
POLL SHOWS CALIFORNIA VOTERS SUPPORT PAID SICK DAYS LAW
Findings follow new research showing positive public health benefits of AB 2716