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Field Poll Shows 73% of California Voters Favor Law to Guarantee Paid Sick Days to All Workers—Legislation Pending in Last Month of Session

By Frank D. Russo

Field Poll results have just been released showing that by a lopsided 73% to 23%, California voters favor a state law to guarantee workers in our state receive a minimum number of paid sick days from their employer. The results are quite impressive as support for such a law exists in all demographic categories, including 85% of Democrats, 75% of non-partisan/others, and 56% of Republicans.

This should give a big shot in the arm to AB 2716 by Assemblymember Ma that is pending before the Senate Appropriations Committee and needs to pass before the end of the month when this year’s legislative session ends. AB 2716 has already passed the Assembly--on a party line 45 to 33 vote with one Democrat (Juan Arambula of Fresno) voting with Republicans in opposition. It has passed the Senate Labor Committee on a party line vote and is making its way towards its ultimate hurdle—signature by the Governor.

The Field Poll was conducted for the California Center for Research on Women and Families, a public policy research organization that is a program of the nonprofit Public Health Institute.

Field’s data show not only strong public support for paid sick leave, but that this is an issue that is important to voters. 77% of voters report being concerned that not all workers in California receive paid sick days—44% of them expressing that they are “very” concerned. Only 11% said they were not too concerned and another 11% told Field they were not concerned at all.

Field also found that the rationale for paid sick day laws such as AB 2716 also has much stronger support with California voters. 82% agree (58% strongly) that these laws are a good idea because when sick people go to work, their coworkers and customers can also go sick. 81% also agree (57% strongly) that guaranteeing paid sick day laws to all restaurant workers who handle food would increase the chances that these workers would stay home and not infect the public when they are sick.

The restaurant industry, in particular the fast food chains, are strong opponents of AB 2716 and are working to kill the bill before it hits the governor’s desk.

Perhaps most strikingly 76% of voters (50% strongly) agree that paid sick days should be considered a basic worker right, like being paid a decent wage.

It’s not that voters don’t see the other side of the argument. 74% agree with an argument made by opponents that a paid sick day law would increase the cost of doing business and that these costs would likely be passed on to consumers. Overall, 35% agree with this proposition strongly. 52% agree (21% strongly) that this will hurt some workers because businesses will be forced to cut back on worker hours or lay off some employees.

Rajiv Bhatia, MD, MPH, Director of Occupational and Environmental Health, San Francisco Department of Public Health, summarized the findings this way: "Voters appear to understand that providing paid sick days has some costs to businesses and consumers, but appear to have greater concerns about the public health benefits and are willing to support the proposed law regardless.”

There is a division on the question of whether a paid sick days law should apply equally to all employers large and small or whether small businesses should be allowed to offer fewer paid sick days to their workers. More voters (47%) believe that the law should apply equally to all employers, while 40% support a differential approach. The split here is that Democrats (50% to 35%) and non-partisan/others (50% to39%) support the across the board approach, whereas Republicans by 46% to 40% favor fewer sick pay jobs being required of small employers.

Fields numbers show support for paid sick day laws in California that strikingly strong in all groups. And the intensity of support should be noted. Of the 73% that support this, 49% strongly support it. Of the 23% who oppose it, only 11% are strongly opposed. There is a gender gap here—women support it 80% to 17%--but men are also supportive by a two to one margin, 65% to 31%. By household income, support starts off at 88% for those with lower income, but is still at a 65% level when it comes to those with over $100,000 of income.

This poll was taken of 809 California registered voters between July 8 and 14. It has a margin of error of 3.% as to all questions except as to the ones about the pro and con arguments where voters were split into two samples and the margin of error is 5%.

Posted on August 05, 2008

Comments

If this bill passes and becomes law, it will drive every small business owner out of the state. Who is to say that someone couldn't call into work sick after 30 days of employment and go to the beach. Small business should pay for this?

Posted by: debra at August 6, 2008 01:38 PM

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