SUPPORT.
>>> NOW TO OUR CORONAVIRUS
COVERAGE YOU COUNT ON.
COVERAGE YOU COUNT ON.
AS THE PANDEMIC STRETCHES ON AND
THE OMICRON VARIANT TP THE
SPREAD MORE WORKPLACES ARE
DEALING WITH THE INEVITABLE,
MANY WORKERS FACING THE TOUGH
CHOICE OF BEING PRESSURED TO
WORK STICK DUE TO STAFFING
SHORTAGES OR NOT BEING ABLE TO
AFFORD LOSING HOURS BY CALLING
OUT SICK.
RESEARCHERS HAVE BEEN KEEPING
TRACK OF THE TROUBLING TREND.
TRACK OF THE TROUBLING TREND.
NBC 7’S DANA GRIFFIN SPOKE WITH
A UC SAN FRANCISCO PROFESSOR WHO
A UC SAN FRANCISCO PROFESSOR WHO
SAYS THE FINDINGS OF HER SURVEY
WERE SHOCKING.
>> Reporter: IT IS NO SURPRISE,
WORKERS ARE FEELING THE BURDEN
OF THE OMICRON SURGE AS MORE AND
MORE WORKERS CALL OUT SICK WITH
COVID.
BUT WHAT WAS SURPRISING TO THIS
SOCIOLOGY PROFESSOR WAS THAT TWO
THIRDS OF SERVICE WORKERS
THIRDS OF SERVICE WORKERS
SURVEYED MONTHS BEFORE THE
LATEST SURGE CHOSE TO GO TO WORK
WHILE ILL.
>> THIS IS VERY PREVALENT.
>> THIS IS VERY PREVALENT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE WORKERS ARE
NOT ALONE.
>> Reporter: THE SHIFT PROJECT
TALKED TO 6,000 WORKERS
NATIONWIDE IN THE FALL, MANY
FROM CALIFORNIA.
MOST MADE THE DECISION BECAUSE
THEY DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH PAID
SICK TIME, DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE
THEIR COWORKERS IN A LURCH.
OR THE MOST PERSONING, PRESSURE
FROM MANAGEMENT.
FROM MANAGEMENT.
>> SOME OF THE STORIES WERE VERY
STARK ABOUT EVEN SAYING I HAVE
COVID SYMPTOMS BUT MY MANAGER
COVID SYMPTOMS BUT MY MANAGER
SAID, TOO BAD, WE NEED YOU TO
COME IN.
AND SO STORIES LIKE THAT REALLY
ARE VERY SHOCKING.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT’S JUST
OUR REALITY.
>> Reporter: A REALITY A LOCAL
UNION PRESIDENT IS TRYING TO
COMBAT.
>> WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING CLOSELY
>> WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING CLOSELY
WITHIN THE INDUSTRY TO MAKE SURE
WE DON’T HAVE ANY BAD PLAYERS
THAT ARE TRYING TO FORCE WORKERS
TO COME TO WORK WHEN THEY ARE
SICK.
IT IS A VERY BUSY, CRAZY TIME
FOR ALL OF US RIGHT NOW.
>> Reporter: BUT THERE IS HOPE
ON THE HORIZON, JUST THIS WEEK
GOVERNOR NEWSOM ANNOUNCED A DEAL
WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TO
WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TO
RESTORE UP TO TWO WEEKS OF PAID
SICK LEAVE.
MANY OF THESE WORKERS ARE
MANY OF THESE WORKERS ARE
ECONOMICALLY INSECURE AND CANNOT
AFFORD TO MISS A DAY’S PAY OR
JEOPARDIZE THEIR JOB.
WHEN FACED WITH THE CHOICE TO GO
WHEN FACED WITH THE CHOICE TO GO
TO WORK OR FOREGO PAY, THEY
OFTEN CLOOZ TO WORK SICK.
>> IT IS NOT GOOD FOR A WORKER
TO GO TO WORK SICK.
BUT IF WE THINK ABOUT HOW MANY
PEOPLE GO TO THE GROCERY STORE,
GO TO A RESTAURANT, DID TO A
WALMART OR GO TO A TARGET, ALL
OF THE PEOPLE THEY RUN INTO ARE
OF THE PEOPLE THEY RUN INTO ARE
PUT AT RISK BY THESE TYPES OF