Should Workers Get Paid Sick Days? Prop F Says Yes

Over 115,000 working San Franciscans do not have the freedom to take a paid day off when they or their family members are sick. The lack of paid sick days mean that when a worker has the flu, when their child is running a fever, or when their elderly parent falls and needs to go to the hospital, workers risk losing their jobs and income if they stay home to care for their families. Workers are forced to choose between their health and their livelihoods because there is no better option. Until now.

Proposition F would provide all workers in San Francisco with paid sick days to care for their health and the health of their families. Workers would earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Workers could use paid sick days to stay home when they are sick, or to care for their children, parents and partners. They also have the option of using paid sick time for preventive care appointments. Big businesses would provide up to 9 days or 72 hours of paid leave, while small business with fewer than 10 workers would provide up to 5 days or 40 hours of paid leave.

Proposition F gives workers the security to know that getting sick does not mean losing their job. The majority of workers who lack paid sick days are low-income workers in food service and retail who are already struggling to make ends meet. Many people work two to three jobs while also attending school and caring for children. The precarious balance between multiple jobs and other responsibilities can come crashing down if a worker gets sick and can’t take time off to recuperate or seek care. Working sick prolongs recovery time and makes the illness worse. Instead of getting over a cold or the flu by resting at home, workers without paid sick leave work sick, stay sick and end up in the emergency room or with worse health problems.

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