The benefits of access to paid sick leave on employee health, familial health and public health are well understood. Since there are not forthcoming arguments that contradict the benefits or their ability to improve the lives of individuals these will only be reviewed briefly.
Employee Health – The health of individuals is of the upmost importance for a society because it allows people to perform to their best ability at work, care for children and other dependents, and participate in the community.[1] In order to obtain and maintain good health, employees need to be able to seek medical treatment and to attend regular doctor’s appointments.
Family Health – The care of children and the elderly is a task that must be accomplished in a society and the most common provision of this care is by family members. Children who receive preventive care get sick less frequently and children recover more quickly from illness and injury when their parents are involved.[2]
Public Health – Communicable illness is a problem for everyone and it is the embodiment of a market failure through negative externalities. When a sick employee comes to work because he lacks access to paid sick leave, he is likely to infect those around him. The undesirable outcome for the co-worker, restaurant patron, or nursing home patient in the form of contracting an illness is an example of the cost of the lack of paid sick leave being borne by others.