Proposition F on the November 7, 2006 ballot, titled the “Sick Leave Ordinance,” seeks to provide sick leave opportunities to the many employees in San Francisco who do not have paid sick leave available to them through their jobs. The legislation seeks to provide up to 40 hours of accrued paid sick leave for employees of small businesses, and up to 72 hours of accrued paid sick leave for employees of other employers. The Sick Leave Ordinance seeks to allow for the timely and adequate opportunity for an employee to care for oneself, or one’s child, parent, spouse or registered domestic partner, or other family members. Communities expected to benefit include lower income populations, part-time and temporary employees, women and people of color. Legislation advocates also believe that Proposition F will benefit San Francisco as a whole.

The San Francisco Department of Public Health is providing help to evaluate the health benefits of a mandatory sick leave benefit for San Francisco workers. There are broader public health and societal consequences beyond the common sense consequences to individuals and families, which the Department of Public Health has identified. Paid sick leave is advantageous for the public health of San Francisco, as it:

Enables workers to take the time off needed to manage or recover from an illness and care for ill family members. Many workers are more likely to come to work sick, which may worsen or delay the employee’s recovery, thus compounding the effects of the illness on the employee and his or her family.

Protects co-workers and the public from infectious disease. Employees who come to work ill may expose other employees or customers to disease, such as influenza. Additionally, those who send their sick child to school or child care center, due to the necessity to attend work, risk the other children at the same facility.

Reduces the social and economic costs of avoidable hospitalizations. Many of the admissions to our hospitals are entirely preventable with timely and effective outpatient and primary care. Paid sick leave would provide the opportunity for transportation, time, and ability to leave work to seek this timely or regular care.

The Sick Leave Ordinance seeks to “ensure a more stable workforce in our community and thereby benefit not only workers and their families but employers and the community as a whole.” By recognizing the effects of paid sick leave on the community, the Department of Public Health can further assist members of the SF community to prevent disease and promote health.

For more information on the Sick Leave Ordinance, see: www.paidsickdayssf.org

For SFDPH testimony on the Sick Leave Ordinance, click July 2006 testimony to San Francisco Board of Supervisors on the Potential Health Consequences of Paid Sick Days (pdf)