Transcript Document

KEEPING FAMILIES HEALTHY:
WV Earned Sick Days and Family Medical Leave
Central Regional Policy Workshop & Community Trainings
St. 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
Share of Full Time Private Sector Workers Without Access to Paid Sick Days in
West Virginia, 2010-2012
68%
38%
24%
18%
Less than $15,000
$15,000 - $34,999
$35,000 - $64,999
$65,000+
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
Share of Workers Without Access to Paid Sick Days by Occupation in West
Virginia, 2010-2012
66%
46%
44%
44%
36%
24%
23%
16%
Service
Occupations
Natrural
Production and Sales and Office Education,
Resource, Transportation
Legal, Media,
Construction,
Arts
Maintenance
Business and
Financial
Healthcare
Engineering
and Science
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 coworkers healthy.
– Help working parents care for their families
– Reduce overall healthcare costs