Paid Sick Leave Can Reduce Workplace Injuries

Research has found that workers who are provided with paid sick leave are less likely to suffer workplace injuries.

Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that private-sector workers with access to paid sick leave were 28% less likely to suffer non-fatal industrial injuries than those without access to leave.

They also found that during the study period, the non-fatal injury incidence rate per 100 full-time equivalent workers with access to paid sick leave was 2.59, compared with 4.18 for those without such leave.

Industries that benefit most from paid sick leave

Workers in the riskiest jobs are the most likely to benefit from paid sick leave. They include jobs in:

• Construction
• Manufacturing
• Agriculture
• Health care

Workers in these sectors commonly experience muscle soreness, pain, sprains, strains and tears; fractures; cuts and lacerations; or more chronic injuries, including herniated discs, cartilage damage and spinal cord injuries.

Yet, fewer than 30% of workers in the construction and agricultural sectors had paid leave during the examined period, compared to 65% in the mining and health care sectors.

The researchers concluded that access to paid sick leave could reduce the pressure to work while sick out of fear of losing income. Fewer people working while sick, and therefore performing at reduced functional capacity, might lead to safer operations and fewer injuries.

Real-life examples

The NIOSH study found that:

• Health care practitioners and technicians without access to paid sick leave were 18% more likely to suffer a work-related injury than workers in the same jobs who have access to such leave.
• A construction worker without access to paid sick leave was 21% more likely to suffer a work-related injury than a construction worker with access to paid sick leave.
• The study results also suggest that a family member’s hospitalization increased the probability that a worker would suffer a severe occupational injury by 9%.

The authors noted that earlier studies had found that paid sick leave is associated with shorter worker recovery times and reduced complications from minor health problems.

The researchers also noted that companies may enjoy better productivity if absenteeism is reduced thanks to offering paid sick leave, or such leave reduces “presenteeism” — continuing coming to work despite being ill, which can affect performance.

Paid sick leave is considered a non-wage benefit that employers are not required to offer their workers. However, more states have enacted paid laws that require employers to provide a minimal amount of paid sick days.

Although the Family and Medical Leave Act requires public agencies and private-sector establishments to provide up to 12 weeks of leave to eligible workers, this leave can be paid or unpaid.

The researchers found that 43% of private-sector workers reported having no access to paid sick leave during the study period.

“Firms may not recognize the potential contribution of paid sick leave to profit maximization,” the authors said. “Employers in California reported either a positive or no noticeable effect on worker productivity, turnover and morale following statewide implementation of paid family leave.”