KEEPING FAMILIES HEALTHY: WV Earned Sick Days and Family Medical LeaveCentral Regional Policy Workshop & Community TrainingsSt. Timothy in the Valley, Hurricane, WV - July 24, 2014

Everybody needs time off for work

• Caring for a sick child, an elderly parent, or ourselves, all of us sometimes need time off from work.

• But many workers in West Virginia don’t have any source of income when they must take time off for their own health or to care for their family.

227,000 workers in West Virginia lack access to paid sick days

• 44% of private sector workers in West Virginia do not have paid sick days.

• While many workers are eligible for long-term leave under the FMLA, most get no long term leave

The least likely to have paid sick leave are the least able to afford not to

Less than $15,000 $15,000 - $34,999 $35,000 - $64,999 $65,000+

68%

38%

24%18%

Share of Full Time Private Sector Workers Without Access to Paid Sick Days in West Virginia, 2010-2012

Source: Institute for Women’s Policy Research analysis of 2010–2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and 2010-2012 IPUMS American Community Survey (ACS).

Paid sick days are rarer in jobs requiring contact with the public

Servi

ce O

ccupations

Natrural R

esource, C

onstructi

on, Maintenance

Production and Transporta

tion

Sales a

nd Office

Education, L

egal, Media, A

rts

Business

and Financia

l

Healthca

re

Engineering and Sc

ience

66%

46% 44% 44%36%

24% 23%16%

Share of Workers Without Access to Paid Sick Days by Occupation in West Virginia, 2010-2012

Source: Institute for Women’s Policy Research analysis of 2010–2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and 2010-2012 IPUMS American Community Survey (ACS).

The costs of going to work while sick

When workers go to work while sick –– Their productivity suffers, costing their employer money– They have higher rates of on-the-job injuries– They stay sick longer– Illnesses spread– They delay medical care

These costs also occur when working parents are forced to send a sick child to school, or delay preventative care

The costs of missing work without paid sick leave

When workers go miss work without sick pay –– They can fall into poverty– They can be forced to seek public assistance– They risk losing their job

18 states (plus D.C.) have some sort of family/sick leave policy

Paid Sick Days Policy Possibilities• A number of municipalities have paid sick day policies.• Accrual rates range from 1 hour to every 30 to 40 worked,

with a max ranging from 24 to 72 hours• Some policies have different accrual rates for small

businesses, or don’t require paid time off for small businesses.

• Most policies cover the children, spouse, domestic partners, parents, grandparents, and grandchildren of the worker.

• Some policies have a wait period for accrual use after employment begins.

Family Leave Policy Possibilities

• A WV program that guaranteed 6 weeks of benefits at 50% of wage replacement would cost approximately $69 million per year (assuming a 5% take-up rate and including administrative costs of 7.5%).

• At that cost, the program could be financed with a 0.3% payroll tax.

• The tax would cost the an average full-time worker $122 per year, or $2.35 per week.

With paid leave, WV can build stronger workers, families, and businesses

Paid leave policies–– Help businesses increase productivity and morale,

reduce turnover, and decrease medical and worker’s compensation costs.

– Help sick workers get healthy and keep their co-workers healthy.

– Help working parents care for their families– Reduce overall healthcare costs