| (This post was written by Margaret Gomez of 9 to 5 Colorado) Nearly 100,000 workers in the city of Denver do not have access to paid sick days. Every day these people prepare our food, watch our children at day care, and give treatments and medicine to our elders through in home care. This creates obvious public health concerns. There is also a human rights concern. People who work hard and play by the rules should not lose their jobs because they get sick or have to care for a sick family member. These concerns have led to the Campaign for a Healthy Denver, an effort to pass a paid sick day initiative within the city of Denver. According to recent polls 65% of voters in Denver strongly support paid sick days for workers because they want to protect public health and the vulnerable middle class. Right now, families simply cannot afford to lose a day's worth of wages or risk losing a job after catching the common cold. The Campaign for a Healthy Denver comes at a critical time for the city as people struggle to regain economic security as the state unemployment rate stalls at an outrageous 9.2%. Guaranteeing paid sick time for workers saves local businesses money, $10.45 per week per worker to be exact. These savings come from reduced turnover, increased productivity, and a healthier workforce. A formal investment in our Denver workforce that positively impacts the families in our communities only strengthens our local economy. A paid sick days ordinance would not only improve the bottom line for businesses, but also increase family prosperity. The Campaign for a Healthy Denver is a common sense public health measure that will enhance the way we all do business. (For more information, see Paid Sick Days Initiative) |
