The National Partnership for Women and Families and The United Food and Commercial Workers, both based in Washington, D.C., also expressed support.

The effects of having employees go to work while sick can be far ranging, noted Vicki Shabo, director of work and family programs for the Washington, D.C.,-based National Partnership for Women & Families.

At the American Public Health Association’s annual meeting in Boston this week, the organization officially approved 17 policy statements, including one calling for the US to improve access to paid sick and family leave and one urging the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to require workplace injury and illness prevention programs.

The National Partnership for Women & Families says that more than 40 million private sector workers, about 40 percent of the workforce, don’t earn paid sick days.

“Expansion of the District’s law on paid sick days to include bar and restaurant workers…is badly needed. It is unfortunate that opponents are trotting out the same baseless, discredited arguments they used five years ago to try to block progress.”

Debra Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families, which advocates for paid sick leave, believes that New York’s size and the override of Bloomberg’s veto helps add to the momentum in other cities and states considering similar legislation.

A post-election survey for National Partnership for Women & Families found that 96 percent of self-described Democrats, 87 percent of Independents, and 73 percent of Republicans believe it is important for Congress to consider new laws including paid sick days and family and medical leave insurance.

In 2006, San Francisco became the first city to required companies to provide paid sick days, according to the National Partnership for Women and Families.

“We are the hub of both coordination and activity on this,” said Vicki Shabo, the group’s director of work and family programs. “We help to connect grass-roots and national organizations.”