These food workers have to work while sick - a risk to all of us

sick day struggle

"Stay home if you're sick."


The problem is staying home isn't an option for food industry workers -- 70% of whom are low wage employees with no paid sick days.


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But for most workers, taking off when sick means no pay, and at worst a lost job.

Related: Paid sick days won't hurt businesses

"If I don't get paid I get behind on rent and I have to go to the food bank," said Martin Ayala, a clerk in the meat department of a large Los Angeles supermarket that caters to a booming Hispanic market.

For Ayala, working sick is a way of life. The Mexican immigrant, who has been in the United States for 25 years, admits that he's unintentionally sneezed and coughed on food and has seen his co-workers do the same even while sick.

But with an hourly wage of $11.36 with which he supports a family, he says he can't afford to miss a day.

Poverty's vicious cycle
Poverty's vicious cycle

"Yesterday and today I had the flu. It's very simple for me with four kids - I have to work," said the 47-year-old father, who has worked at the El Super food market for five years.

Related: Sick days: A luxury many hourly workers don't have

El Super, which owns 46 stores in California, Arizona, and Nevada, is currently negotiating with Ayala's union to include paid sick days in a new contract.

The supermarket told CNNMoney that it has put forth several proposals -- including paid sick days -- but they have been rejected. The union has said there are too many pre-conditions, so the negotiations continue.

Right now only one state, Connecticut, has a paid sick day law. But Ayala's home state of California has a measure winding its way through the legislature. Voters in Massachusetts have one on the ballot in November and 7 cities have adopted earned paid sick day policies. More are expected to follow.

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