According to the Centers for Disease Control, the US is in the midst of the worst flu season it’s seen in a decade. In Boston, a state of emergency has been declared, where at least 18 people have died because of the flu. The CDC recommends that people with flu-like symptoms stay home and avoid contact with others, except to receive medical care. But as Think Progress reports,
“for a huge number of American workers, that option doesn’t exist due to a lack of paid sick days. 40 percent of private sector workers and a whopping 80 percent of low-income workers do not have a single paid sick day. One in five workers reports losing their job or being threatened with dismissal for wanting to take time off while sick”
So what’s a country to do?
One idea is to avoid restaurants that don’t provide paid sick leave—in the food industry the potential for spreading disease is high, especially with 79% of workers reporting that they are unable able to take a paid sick day.
While this would do little for sick workers this season, it does have the potential to reduce the spread of disease, and perhaps it could act as an incentive for employers to provide better benefits to their workers (although there are other reasons why providing paid sick leave is good for business).
Which restaurants don’t provide paid sick leave to their employees?
Each year the Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC) United publishes a guide on the working conditions in popular America restaurants. In their latest guide, the following restaurants are noted for not providing paid sick leave:
7-Eleven |
Logan’s Roadhouse |
AppleBees |
Long John Silver’s |
BJ’s Restaurants |
Longhorn Steakhouse |
Bob Evan’s Restaurants |
Luby’s Cafeteria |
Bojangle’s Famous Chick ‘N Biscuits |
Maggiano’s Little Italy |
Bonefish Grill |
McCormick & Schmick’s |
Boston Market |
McDonald’s |
Buca Di Beppo |
Moe’s Southwest Grill |
Buffalo Wild Wings |
Morton’s, The Steakhouse |
California, Pizza Kitchen |
Noodles & Company |
Capital Grille |
O’Charley’s |
Captain D’s |
Old Chicago |
Carino’s Italian |
On the Border |
Carl’s Jr |
Outback Steakhouse |
Carrabba’s Italian Grill |
Papa Murphy’s |
Cheddar’s Causual Café |
Perkin’s Restaurant Bakery |
Chick-Fil-A |
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen |
Chili’s Grill Bar |
Portillo’s Hot Dogs |
Church’s Chicken |
Pot Belly Sandwich Works |
Coldstone Creamery |
Qdoba Mexican Grill |
Coner Bakery Café |
Quizno’s |
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store |
Rainforest Café |
Dave & Buster’s |
Rally’s Hamburgers |
Denny’s |
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers |
Dunkin’ Donuts |
Ruby Tuesday |
Famous Dave’s |
Ruth’s Chris Steak House |
Firehouse Subs |
Sbarro Pizza |
Five Guys Burgers & Fries |
Sheetz |
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar |
Starbucks |
Fuddruckers |
Steak N Shake |
Godfather’s Pizza |
Subway |
Golden Corral |
T.G.I Fridays |
Hardee’s |
Taco Bell |
Houlihan’s |
The Melting Pot |
Huddle House |
Uno Chicago Grill/Pizzeria |
Jason’s Deli |
Whataburger |
Jersey Mike’s Subs |
Wienerschnitzel |
Johnny Rockets |
Wingstop |
Krystal |
Yard House |
Little Ceasers Pizza |
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[This piece is cross posted at
Healthy Policies]