Paid sick leave provides employees protection against loss of income during absences from work due to illness or injury to themselves, a family member or another designated person that requires direct care by the employee. Sick leave is intended to be used only for the purposes set forth herein.

Paid sick leave benefits both the individuals receiving the benefit and their families, as well as community public health. Many workers without paid sick leave choose to go to work while ill to avoid a reduction in their paychecks and threat to job security. As a result, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other public health researchers have linked the lack of paid sick leave with the transmission of illness. Sick workers may infect their coworkers and members of the public in the workplace, on public transit, and in between. Studies have also found that workers with paid sick leave are more likely to access preventative health care. (Ord. 7505-NS § 2 (part), 2016)