The hard work and vitality of employees are crucial to any business' success. It makes good business sense to take care of employees in order to retain a loyal and healthy workforce and to attract top talent. That's why I provide paid sick days for the people who work for me.
Giving my employees a set number of days each year that they can take off and still be paid if they're sick hasn't hurt my bottom line. In fact, it's actually helped make my business more successful. I have a loyal and healthy workforce that doesn't feel obligated to come in when they're sick and risk infecting others. I've found this leads to increased productivity and lower employee turnover, and the privilege is rarely abused.
My employees are like my family, something that is true for many of the small business owners I know. Providing paid sick days allows us to take care of our workers, ensure they are happy and healthy and at the same time watch out for our bottom line. When employees thrive, so does a business.
Mike Brey, Laurel
The writer is the owner of Hobby Works.