January 17, 2011
Discounted Jobs: How Retailers Sell Workers Short

Retail is one of the fastest growing sectors in the United States and a core part of the New York City economy. This study, conducted in the fall of 2011, sought to track the wages and working conditions of frontline non-managerial workers in New York’s booming retail industry. We interviewed workers employed at non-union large stores and national chains from high-end 5th Avenue fashion to off-brand clothing retailers on Fordham Road in the Bronx. Because New York is the retail capital of the United States, and the majority of respondents worked in stores with a national presence, this study paints a portrait of the practices and conditions experienced by retail workers across the country.

January 10, 2011
Should Paid Sick Days be Required by Law?

Millions of Americans have to go to work when they fall ill, a phenomenon known as presenteeism. But mandatory paid sick leave is healthier for us all. Connecticut just became the first state in the nation to require employers to provide workers with paid sick days. The new law — which also allows paid leave for a sick child or spouse — is controversial. Opponents attack it as big government run amok and say it will kill jobs. But it is the right thing to do, both as a matter of humane treatment of workers and public health. And while the law doesn’t cover everyone, it’s a step in the right direction and other states should follow Connecticut’s lead.

Dec. 16, 2011
Editorial from Senator Wolf, Chair of the Labor, Workforce, and Economic Development Committee: Making the Real-World Case for Paid Sick Days

Paid sick leave should become part of the accepted responsibility of running a business in Massachusetts. To me, this is both humane and smart. A simple, consistent paid sick leave policy would make for a better work environment defined both in terms of quality of life and, long term, the bottom line. From the very beginning, Cape Air, the airline I founded, has offered paid time off for all employees – as have many successful businesses across the region and state. I can say from hard-won experience that this “benefit” does not break the bank. It is a minimal cost, often returned in spades when a grateful, trusted, productive employee returns to work.

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Contact your State Legislators to tell them this legislation is important to you!

Look up your State Legislators
E-mail your State Senator
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Call the Massachusetts State House and ask for your Representative and/or Senator: (617) 722-2000
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Gubernatorial Candidates Weigh in on Paid Sick Days

Candidate Q&A

From Radhika Bhattacharya of Boston:
What is your position on paid sick days in Massachusetts?

JILL STEIN

Of course forcing people to come to work when they’re sick risks passing on colds and flew and more. That’s not good for public health, not good for workers, employers or the businesses bottom line. Family values and worker rights and just plain common decency call for letting people stay home when they’re sick of when their family members need help. Let’s support our families and workers and make sure they have a basic sick day coverage.

TIM CAHILL

If the business wants to do it. I would not require businesses to offer it. If they choose to offer it and many do that’s fine but I would not require or dictate that that has to be the case because it’s already expensive enough to hire individuals if we start dictating what those rules will be for those private individuals and private companies we’ll never get our unemployment down.

CHARLIE BAKER

Sick days in Massachusetts and in state government are completely out of control. I think it should work how it works in the private sector. In the private sector almost every organization I know of people are allocated a certain number of days up to a limit and after that it’s capped. That is typically anywhere from 2-8 weeks depending on the organization and I think that’s a perfectly appropriate way to do it. I think the state’s policy on sick days is ridiculous.

DEVAL PATRICK

Yes I do. There are methodologies that I think are fair and also defensible for businesses that are worried about proposals that are out there now. There is one proposal I have supported and I think it’s the right thing to do. Everything we do in policy and I believe in life has to be a balance.

Not how everyone is on their own and good luck and not be completely dominated and try to solve every problem in everyone’s life but I do think government has a role in helping people help themselves and as a part of that a plan where workers would earn paid sick time is one that I would support.

(Read full story: Boston Metro)