The ballot initiative allowed Massachusetts workers to earn up to 40 hours of sick time a year to take care of their own health or a family member’s health. Workers at companies with 11+ employees could earn and use up to 40 hours of paid sick time per year, while workers at smaller companies could earn and use up to 40 hours of unpaid sick time per year.

Our messaging focused on the individuals that would benefit from earned sick time, from the thousands of hardworking people who are forced to choose between going to work sick or losing a day’s pay, to the parents who are forced to send a sick child to school to save their income or job. Our messaging also highlighted how small businesses providing sick time find that it reduces employee turnover, increases productivity, and helps their bottom line.

Crawford Strategies won positive media coverage of Question 4 in communities all across the state, and helped secure support from over 250 community organizations, religious groups, labor unions, businesses, and civic leaders.

The ballot initiative went on to pass with a nineteen point margin of victory, without spending a single dollar on broadcast TV.

WBUR, Sick Time For All?: A Look At Mass. Ballot Question 4

Springfield Republican, Massachusetts’ earned sick time law goes into effect Wednesday