State Assembly Approves Sick Leave Bill
Los Angeles Times, May 29, 2008
From the Associated Press
SACRAMENTO -- Every worker in California would be eligible for paid sick leave under a bill approved Wednesday by the state Assembly.
The measure goes to the Senate over the objections of Republicans, who say not all businesses can afford to pay employees for sick time.
The bill by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) passed on a 42-25 vote.
Ma says 5 million Californians now have to work while they are sick or lose pay and risk being fired if they take time off.
Her bill requires larger companies to pay employees for nine sick days each year. Businesses with fewer than 10 employees would have to provide five sick days annually.
Opponents say the measure punishes small businesses.
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