Semantics: Earned Sick Leave (should we say Earned Paid Vacation?)

Talking of 'Earned Sick Leave" as in recent articles in the New York Times instead of Paid Sick Leave is not anecdotal. It underlines that something has been 'earned'. A way to frame the issue slightly differently and counteract critics that would portray "earned leaves" as excessive perks.

To the Editor:

Re “Quick Work on Paid Sick Leave” (editorial, Jan. 24): The administration of Mayor Bill de Blasio is to be commended for proposing ways to improve New York City’s earned sick leave policy. Officials need only look across the Hudson River to Jersey City, where our earned sick-leave rules — the first in New Jersey — just went into effect.

Giving workers earned time off to care for sick loved ones or themselves when ill is a basic human dignity that also protects the public. Often overlooked is that businesses are also helped by reduced employee turnover, as studies show.

STEVEN M. FULOP
Mayor
Jersey City, Jan. 24, 2014