Through normalising paid sick leave, the HFA is expected to lessen the stereotypes that are felt by both men and women. As this change in the behavior of institutions is felt and practices are normalised, men will gain by being able to take a greater role in family caretaking. This transformation will, in turn, enable women to dedicate more time and effort to their careers changing employers’ views of women’s commitment to work which will decrease the impact of long held stereotypes. Both men and women will experience gains with neither losing to support the other. Furthermore, the group that is likely to receive the greatest benefit of a change in policy is the poor because they are the group most heavily discriminated against, with only 21 percent currently receiving access to paid sick leave. This group is also most likely to lose their job due to lack of access to leave and most likely to fall into dependence on welfare. This means that not only would the poor improve their current situation, but by staying gainfully employed other Americans benefit because there will be fewer welfare recipients to support. Additionally, many of the 28 percent of employees in the highest income quartile who do not currently have access to paid sick leave will gain eligibility. This policy is a win-win for poor, and better off employees.
Menu