Building an Economy that Works for Everyone

Workplace injuries less likely when employees have paid sick days

From the “no-brainer” news desk comes a new study that adds some empirical data to plain old common sense: workers are less likely to be injured on the job when they have paid sick days.

The study, performed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH is part of the CDC), found paid sick days offer a significant protection against workplace injury. In an analysis of 38,000 workers, workers with paid sick days were 28% less likely to be injured on the job than those without them. Workers in high risk occupations such as construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and health care and social assistance were most likely to benefit from paid sick days.

The authors suggest that the income security offered by paid sick days allows sick workers to stay home until they’re healthy, lowering the number of workplace accidents. The authors conclude:

Our findings suggest that, similar to other investments in worker safety and health, introducing or expanding paid sick leave programs might help businesses reduce the incidence of nonfatal occupational injuries, particularly in high-risk sectors and occupations.

Paid sick days have already been proven to reduce turnover costs for business, increase employee retention and morale, and protect public health. This study showing they reduce workplace injuries is yet another reason that paid sick days are a no-brainer.

  • Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

More To Read

March 20, 2024

I-2111: The Income Tax Ban Is A Spectacle, but One We Can’t Ignore

A way to waste time, energy, and money, I-2111 is costing more than just taxes

March 20, 2024

Let’s Go Washington: Three initiatives threatening to roll back years of progress

Here’s what you need to know about the initiatives on your November ballot

March 12, 2024

Washington’s Women Are More Protected This Equal Pay Day

Thanks to an update to the state's wage discrimination protections, Washington woman are closer to closing the wage gap