Employers and business owners are always trying to cut costs. Especially in this economy, trimming the budget can make the difference between keeping the doors open or closing down for good. But one thing that employers should never skimp on is employee safety. And a new study should be a wake-up call to Illinois employers and employees about how to reduce workplace accidents.
According to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, employers who offer paid sick live will have a safer workplace than those that don't.
According to the survey of 38,000 private-sector workers, employees are 28 percent less likely to disclose an on-the-job accident if they don't have paid sick leave. According to one of the authors of the study, workers who don't have paid sick leave don't want to miss long periods of work because they can't afford to not be paid. And if someone is at work when they should be recuperating, the workplace is made less safe.
The Family and Medical Leave act requires employers to allow up to 12 weeks of sick leave, but it does not have to be paid. According to the survey, only 57 percent of workers had paid sick leave. And less than 30 percent of construction workers had access to paid sick leave. Construction is one of the more dangerous industries to work in, and employers should realize that keeping employees safe will reduce costs in the long run.
With these stats, it should be clear to all employers that safety is a key investment. Would you rather pay now for a safer workplace, or pay more in workers' compensation and personal injury lawsuits later?
Source: Medpage Today, "Paid Sick Leave Linked to Fewer Injuries at Work," Michael Smith, Aug. 1, 2012
