Lost productivity from illness costs the U.S. economy more than $200 billion every year. This figure not only accounts for the time employees spend away from the office, but also when workers report to the office but do not perform at full capacity since they’re not feeling up to snuff.
In the U.S., roughly three quarters of full-time workers get paid sick leave, while around one quarter of part-time workers have the benefit. That leaves nearly 43 million private-sector workers without paid sick days to recover from an illness or care for a sick family member. Paid sick days not only decrease the productivity lost when employees work while not feeling well, but also result in reduced turnover, better self-reported health, and increase company morale.
Laws and ordinances already in place show firsthand how the benefits of paid sick leave outweigh the costs. Before you decide how many sick days you should give to your employees, read on for more statistics and facts.