From June 27 to July 31, 2008, NORC conducted a random sample telephone survey of 1,493 adults in U.S. households to obtain their attitudes and opinions about paid sick days.  The study was sponsored by the Public Welfare Foundation.

The survey found that 82 percent of respondents considered paid sick leave for themselves a "very important" employee benefit. It ranked fourth after equal pay for equal work, a safe workplace and affordable health insurance -- and ahead of retirement benefits, paid vacations and flex time.

The survey also found that workers without paid sick leave are much more likely to report to work with a contagious illness than those with paid sick leave and that more than 40 percent of private sector workers and 75 percent of low-wage workers lack paid sick days.

Half of respondents "agreed very strongly" that paid sick days were a "basic worker's right," and 75 percent "strongly favored" a law guaranteeing all workers a minimum number of paid sick days -- although that number dropped to 66 percent after respondents heard various arguments for and against such a law.

View the full report  (169K) and read the Public Welfare Foundation's press release.