More Private Sector Workers Than Ever Entitled to Sick Leave

Employment Law

A new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates the percentage of private-sector employees with paid sick leave benefits rose from 61 percent in 2015 to a record high 64 percent in 2016, the first increase in four years.  In addition, the percentage of low-wage employees with paid sick leave jumped from 31 to 39 percent.  Labor Department Chief Economist Heidi Shierholz attributed the increase to "the positive effects of state and local paid sick leave laws."  Between March 2015 and March 2016, the biggest increase in access to paid sick days was in the Pacific Census Division, largely reflecting changes in California and Oregon, both of which implemented new statewide paid sick time laws. Importantly, the increase in access to paid sick leave in 2016 did not correspond with a decrease in other benefits, as the percentage of employees with paid vacation and holiday leave and the number of employees being offered retirement and health care benefits also increased.