The major findings
● "Get Well Soon" is an exhaustive look at sick-leave policies in this country. It includes federal labor statistics, international comparisons and surveys from a score of private, nonprofit agencies. Among its contents:
● 47 percent of Americans working in private industry have no paid sick days.
● 59 million Americans - in public and private employment - have no paid sick days.
● 41 percent of working parents with incomes up to twice that of the poverty level have no paid leave of any sort - sick days, personal days or vacation.
● 117 countries guarantee workers a week or more paid sick leave a year.
● Children miss more than three days of school a year on average because of illness.
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● One-third of working Americans have "significant elder-care responsibilities."
Source: National Partnership for Women & Families
Arizona rates a D+ in survey
● Arizona got a D+ grade - no state got an A - in the National Partnership for Women & Families' study "Get Well Soon: Americans Can't Afford to be Sick." The report ranked states based on how much access state and private employees have to sick leave. Among its findings:
● Arizona has no laws governing access to or use of sick leave for private-sector employees.
● Arizona provides 12 days of sick leave to state employees, who may receive direct donations of additional paid leave from co-workers.
● There is no limit on how many sick leave days a state worker can accrue, and state employees may use their sick leave to care for family members.