Here are some facts and figures on the problem:

Around 40% of working people in Connecticut don't get a single paid sick day all year long. Among low wage workers, that figure rises to more than 75%.

Only 20% of food service workers have sick days. Childcare, retail, and nursing workers are also less likely to have paid sick days.

Presenteeism - the phenomenon of employees coming in to work sick, but working less productively and possibly spreading illness - costs employers an estimated $255 per employee per year. That's more than the cost of gauranteeing paid sick days.

94 million Americans do not have a sick day that they can use to take care of a sick child or family member.

Children recover from illness faster when they have a parent present to take care of them.

About one in four parents with a child under one year old does not get any paid sick time .

Many people with chronic illness would be able to avoid hospitalization if they were able to attend more outpatient visits to manage their illness. Lack of paid sick days is a significant barrier to healthcare access.

All of the top twenty most competetive economies in the world guaantee paid sick days for workers -- excepy the US.

You can read more facts and figures at any of these resources.