An activist group in California, Human Impact Partners (HIP), has coupled with labor union coalitions to release a report advocating for the passage of the state's "Healthy Families, Healthy Workplaces Act of 2008" (A.B. 2716).  The Act would require California employers to provide all employees with five (5) to nine (9) paid sick days annually, depending on the size of the employer.  The HIP report notes:

The health of all Californians would significantly benefit if workers earned paid sick days and used them when ill or when a family member needs care.  However, almost 40% of the California workforce -- 5.4 million workers -- do not have the right to take paid time off from work when they are sick.

The group's conclusions:

Guaranteed paid sick days would help reduce the spread of flu; protect the public from diseases carried by sick workers in restaurants and in long-term care facilities; prevent hunger and homelessness among sick low-income workers; and enable workers to stay home when they are sick or when they need to care for a sick dependent.  We would all be better off if this commonsense workpalce practice were to become law.

The report contains no analysis -- or mention -- of the cost the legislation would impose upon employers.  Not surprisingly, the state Chamber of Commerce believes that to be a significant burden, particularly on smaller employers, and opposes the measure.  Nevertheless, the bill passed a vote in the Assembly earlier this year, and is now before the State Senate.

Employers throughout the United States must follow debate over this issue, as Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) have introduced similar federal legislation.  The "Healthy Families Act" (H.R. 1542, S. 910) would require American employers with 15 or more employees to provide each with seven (7) paid sick days annually.  The bill has at least 92 Democrat co-sponsors in the House and last year the House Workforce Protections Subcommittee held hearings on the legislation.  Employers should expect the bill to be a significant part of the legislative agenda for the 111th Congress if Democrats extend their majority.