Jody Heymann, (Founding Director of the Institute for Health and Social Policy at McGill University,) and Alison Earle, (Research Scientist at the Harvard School of Public Health and Co-director of the Project on Global Working Families,) recently completed a study on workers’ rights entitled “Raising the Global Floor: Dismantling the Myth That We Can’t Afford Good Working Conditions For Everyone.” Many are heralding it as a must-read.
Among the findings of the study, the most profound is how far behind the United States is compared to other countries. Out of the 190 nations that the co-authors studied, the United States ranked low on the totem poll regarding workers’ rights. For example, 163 nations reportedly guarantee paid sick leave, 164 nations guarantee annual leave for vacation, 48 nations provide paid time off to care for sick children, and 157 nations ensure their workers receive one day of rest per week. The United States, sadly, provides none of these benefits.
These alarming results led the co-authors to delve deeper into why different nations have adopted different employment policies. They found that many employers worry that providing a base level of benefits such as those listed above will render them less competitive in the global marketplace. However, the co-authors have found that the opposite is actually true. Jody Heymann is quoted as saying there is “no negative relationship at all between decent working conditions and competitiveness or job creation. [In fact], a number of these guarantees are associated with increased competitiveness” (emphasis added.)
A hearing was held November 17th, 2009 to consider the institution of the Emergency Influenza Containment Act (mandating five-days paid sick leave for employees of businesses with fifteen or more workers.) At the hearing, many businesses purportedly expressed concern that the guarantee for paid sick leave will cause them to lose significant revenue and productivity. The study has debunked this myth as well: a week of paid sick leave would cost businesses just two percent more in wage costs, perhaps making the institution of the Emergency Influenza Containment Act a no-brainer. The White House has already endorsed it, and with the release of this study, many businesses are likely to get on board. It will be interesting to see if this study has any impact on whether Congress will pass the Act.
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