Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

The who: People who typically can’t afford to take off from work due to illnesses.

The what: Employers aren’t required by some states to offer minimum paid sick – leave days to their employees to take off from work because they are sick.

They why: Because they either make too little money, have kids, single parents or other situations that force them to work while being sick.

Hypothesis: I believe that if legislation is passed that requires employers to give a minimum number of paid sick – leave days to their employees, it will increase both the healthcare and insurance businesses since more people will be going in for doctor visits, getting medication, and getting treatments or surgeries.

Interviews: In my interview process I tried to add variation to the people I would be selecting. So I went to the mall and went into different types of stores (Macy's, Payless Shoes, and the food courts). I hoped that people with higher income might be shopping in the suit or Ralph Lauren sections of Macy's, while people who might make less money would be in the Payless shoes or food courts. The two people I interviewed at Macy's had the same opinions in that they would like paid sick – leaves because it would be more incentive to go out to the doctor’s office if they were to get sick or needed to get their teeth cleaned or something. They believed that by not having paid sick – leave decentivizes them while at work when they are work. One out of the 2 people I interviewed at Payless Shoes had the opposite opinion. She believed it was up to the person to take responsibility and go to the doctor’s office on their own time. She believed it was not up to the business to pay them when they got sick. The other Payless interview had similar beliefs to the people in Macy's in that people might become more productive at work if they know they can take off when they are sick. The last person I interviewed was from the food court. They also had similar beliefs that in that they would like paid sick – leave because they are unable to take off of work because they don’t have the money to do so.