SEATTLE - More than half the people questioned in a new national survey said they've either gone to work with a contagious illness or sent their kids to school or child care sick, because they didn't have paid sick leave and couldn't afford to stay home.

The University of Chicago's National Opinion Research Center found that 86 percent of people surveyed think workers should be able to earn a minimum of seven paid sick days per year. Senior fellow and survey director Tom Smith says employers have several ways to minimize paid time off for illness.

"We found that many workers have only a very restricted or limited version. They may not be able to use it for family members, or they may have only a few days of paid time off, which has to cover not only sick days, but vacations, jury duty, etc."

According to Smith, a majority of both Republicans (59 percent) and Democrats (89 percent) said they'd support paid sick days as a federal policy. Congress is considering this as part of the Healthy Americans Act, which would allow both full and part-time workers to earn sick days. Business groups who oppose the idea say it's too expensive, especially for small companies.

In the state of Washington, 60 percent of full-time workers have no paid time off for illness, although groups in Tacoma and Seattle are pushing for local ordinances that would require employers to offer paid sick days to all workers. It's been the law in San Francisco since 2007, and Debra Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women and Families, says it's working well.

"Not only is it working, but employment there remains stronger than in neighboring counties that do not guarantee paid sick days, even through this recession. And, our one-time opponents there are now actually admitting that their fears were unfounded."

Ness says opponents of the San Francisco law were the Chamber of Commerce and the local restaurant association. Her group sees paid sick leave as a public health issue to prevent spreading disease, and to allow workers to get treatment before their illnesses are serious enough to require hospitalization.

The survey, sponsored by the nonprofit Public Welfare Foundation, is online at www.publicwelfare.org.



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More than one in three Ohioans are relying on credit cards for spending needs, and nearly a quarter say they've increased their credit-card use in response to cost-of-living increases, according to a new report.

Michael Welker, editor of Upgraded Points, a website tracking credit-card reward and travel programs, explained when the pandemic began, people spent less and got a financial boost from stimulus checks, leading to lower credit-card balances overall. Now, persistent high inflation is causing many to use credit to cover basic household expenses.

Welker said it poses a risk as interest rates rise.

"As you carry over balances month to month, and interest starts to accrue, potentially it's going to be even harder to pay down your debt," Welker advised. "That's going to be even more pressure, in terms of covering your household expenses."

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has proposed new regulations which would, among other changes, cap late fees for credit-card payments at 25% of the minimum payment amount. The agency is taking public comments about its proposal until April 3.

According to the report, nationwide more than 95% of people with annual incomes below $75,000 said they are feeling stressed about inflation. Welker recommended using credit cards only when needed to meet basic expenses, and shifting habits instead to reduce dining out, entertainment and other leisure spending.

"Be more mindful of your spending," Welker suggested. "Figure out where you might be able to cut or trim back, find less expensive alternatives."

He added consumers may soon feel relief as the federal government works to combat inflation, but only those who rein in their credit-card use.

"The Fed is still raising interest rates trying to tame inflation," Welker pointed out. "Potentially, at some point later in the year, we finally start to see that come down to a more manageable level."

In another survey, by Clever Real Estate, 40% of Americans believe high prices are the "new normal," and 62% say they expect everyday prices will be even higher this year.

Reporting by Ohio News Connection in association with Media in the Public Interest and funded in part by the George Gund Foundation.

Graduate-student workers throughout the University of Maine System are taking steps to unionize and seek recognition from university officials.

Teaching, research and graduate assistants across the state said their heavy workloads are not compensated with adequate wages and benefits.

Vendy Hazuková, a doctoral student worker in the School of Biology and Ecology at the University of Maine-Orono, said the more than 1,000 graduate workers there deserve a voice in negotiating school policies.

"The universities work because we do, and if we don't have dignified working conditions, we can't do our jobs properly," Hazuková asserted.

Hazuková pointed out the University of Maine System offers the lowest stipends for grad-student workers compared to other public universities in New England, at less than $20,000. She noted they have received overwhelming support from the student body.

The grad students in Maine are part of a growing nationwide trend of graduate worker unions, including at Boston University and the University of Connecticut.

Hazuková said after years of complaining about inconsistent paychecks and substandard health plans, she and her colleagues are taking inspiration from those who've successfully organized for change.

"I think we would all just like to focus on the work that we love and do, and not count pennies every month and decide whether we can afford to go to the doctor or buy groceries," Hazuková emphasized.

The University of Maine System said it recognizes the graduate workers' right to unionize and will await the union election outcome before commenting further. The union is affiliated with the United Auto Workers, which has helped more than 40,000 academic workers form unions in the last eight years.


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A person's work personnel file can be important to review, but some Washingtonians are finding them hard to obtain.

A bill in Olympia would ensure they get them in a timely manner. The legislation would require businesses to release workers' personnel files within 14 days or pay statutory damages to the worker.

Such files can contain key information on an employee's termination for workers' compensation cases or unemployment benefits.

Rep. Julia Reed, D-Seattle, said some companies withhold files for long periods of time or hand them over heavily redacted.

"If you're trying to get unemployment you don't have a month to wait for your employer to say that they found your file," Reed contended. "I think it's reasonable to ask employers to find things within two weeks."

Opponents of the bill said it will be hard for businesses to accommodate requests in the bill's 14-day time period, especially for small businesses. The legislation has passed the House and is scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Labor and Commerce today.

Jesse Wing, a trial lawyer in Seattle, said the bill puts teeth in the current law when it comes to handing over personnel files. He is critical of businesses opposed to the measure.

"It all seems like an effort to shut down kind of a due process of an employee to know what's going on with their employment, and I think it just emphasizes the need for this bill," Wing asserted.

Reed added the goal of the bill is to help workers.

"This bill just basically tries to balance the scales a little bit and say that this information that your employer keeps on you is your information, and you should have a right to see it," Reed stressed.


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