After correcting employer-imposed job tenure requirements, only58 percent - or 44 million - of U.S. private-sector employees wereprovided paid sick days in 2010, according to new research from theInstitute for Women's Policy Research.

Based on a recent estimate from the U.S. Bureau of LaborStatistics using data from the National Compensation Survey, IWPR'sestimate is 4 percent higher than the majority, though NCS datadoes not consider employees who are not yet covered for paid sickdays because of job-tenure requirements. Employees typically waitan average of 78 business days, amounting to about 3.5 months,before access to paid sick days is available to them.

"The fewer the number of workers who are able to stay home whensick, the more likely it is that diseases will spread, increasing health care costs and causing needless economiclosses," says Dr. Robert Drago, director of research with IWPR. "Wesaw this during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic when workerswithout paid sick days were more likely to go to work whileinfected with H1N1."

Food service and preparation employees recorded lowest rate ofaccess to paid sick days at 23 percent. Occupations with low ratesfor paid sick day access as well as high turnover rates have lowcoverage rates, which include jobs in construction, extraction,personal care, service and protective services.

"This study has important implications for the nation'seconomy," says Debra Ness, president of the National Partnershipfor Women & Families. "With unemployment so high and jobsearches taking so long, greater access to earned paid sick dayswill help ensure that workers won't lose their jobs if they getsick or a child needs care."

San Francisco; Washington, D.C.; and Milwaukee now have lawsrequiring employer-provide paid sick days, and comparable laws areunder consideration in states and cities nationwide, including NewYork City. Each year since 2005, the Healthy Families Act, whichwould nationally mandate employer-provided paid sick days, has alsobeen introduced to Congress.