--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Thursday, the Institute for Women's Policy Research will release findings from a survey of businesses and employees on the impact of San Francisco's Paid Sick Leave Ordinance, the nation's first policy mandating the right for all workers to earn paid sick days. Seventeen percent of San Francisco's workforce (59,000 employees) had worked in firms that offered no paid sick days, but are now covered. More than half of these employees report some benefit due to the law and one out of four workers reported that they were better able to care for their own and their families' health.
The survey of over 700 employers and nearly 1,200 employees found that two-thirds of employers support the law. It is rare for employees to misuse paid sick days and employees tend to save them for a rainy day using much fewer than the maximum allotment.
The implementation of the legislation has had public health benefits: One out of eight workers with public contact in workplaces such as restaurants and retail establishments reported that the paid sick days made it less likely for them to come to work when sick.
San Francisco's Paid Sick Leave Ordinance: Outcomes for Employers and Employees will be released at a teleconference on Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 2 p.m. ET. All members of the press and bloggers are invited call in.
Who:
- Robert Drago, Ph.D., Director of Research, Institute for Women's Policy Research, co-author of the report.
- Vicky Lovell, Ph.D., Former Acting Director of Research, Institute for Women's Policy Research, co-author of the report.
- Ann O'Leary, J.D., Executive Director, Berkeley Center on Health, Economic & Family Security and a Senior Fellow with the Center for American Progress.
- Nancy Folbre, Ph.D., Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts.
When: Thursday, Feb. 10 at 2:00 p.m. E.T.
Dial-in Information:
888-567-1602 for callers from the U.S.
& Canada – 201-604-5049 for callers from other countries
The embargoed report will be available Tuesday. Please e-mail dobuzinskis@iwpr.org to receive a copy.
The Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR) conducts rigorous research and disseminates its findings to address the needs of women and their families, promote public dialogue, and strengthen communities and societies. IWPR is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that also works in affiliation with the women's studies and public policy programs at The George Washington University.