Starbucks Employees Rally in Support of Paid Sick Days

Holding signs with slogans like "No Coughing in Our Coffee" and "No Viruses in Our Ventis," the EverybodyBenefits.org campaign for paid sick days rallied outside Starbucks on Dixwell Avenue Thursday to highlight the need for paid sick days legislation to protect the public health and workers.

The protesters chanted "Starbucks, you're so wealthy, you can afford to keep us healthy."

"It's scary to know that I could be just one bad flu away from losing my job," said Brandon Haas, a Starbucks employee. "It's hard enough making ends meet these days. So if employees like me gets sick, most likely, we'll just pop an Advil and come in to work. There isn't any other choice."

Hundreds of thousands of  workers in Connecticut lack paid sick days, with many concentrated in food service, retail and health care. When workers come to work sick, advocates say, it threatens not only the health of those workers, but also the public health.

"Starbucks made over $1 billion in profit last year," said Lindsay Farrell, legislative director for Connecticut Working Families. "Starbucks employees from Chile to China get paid sick days, but not in Connecticut. Is it worth saving a few pennies to deny people the time off they need to recover, and instead have them come to work sick and risk our health?"

According to Starbucks' Corporate Social Responsibility Report, Starbucks employees in countries including Chile, Greece and China receive paid sick days. However, Starbucks retail employees in Connecticut receive no paid sick days. Nationally, about four in five food service workers lack paid sick days.

One recent study published by the Journal of Food Protection found that one in eight food service workers reported coming to work sick twice in the last year, with symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea. The study also found that workers with paid sick days came to work sick much less often.

Legislation to create a basic workplace standard for paid sick days has passed in both chambers of the legislature in recent years. This year, advocates say they are cautiously optimistic because of the support of Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy.

State Rep. Roland Lemar, D-96, who represents Hamden, spoke out in support of the plan.

"Lots of hard working families are stretched thinner than ever trying to make ends meet. But for workers without paid sick days, it's even tougher, knowing a single illness could lead you to ruin," Lemar said. "It's no wonder people come to work sick. And that's not healthy for the workers or the customers."