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Here in America, sick leave is viewed as a perk. That means that lower-income workers are the ones most likely to get none.
And that essentially makes paid sick leave a public health issue. Low-paid hourly workers in service industries like fast food and retail have no incentive to stay home when they’re sick.
Only 19 percent of workers in the food preparation industry have access to paid leave, according an analysis released this week by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.