In your March 6 Business article on paid sick days, a key group of North Carolinians was left out who desperately need such a benefit -- caregivers.

We strongly support the effort to require employers to provide a minimum number of paid sick days to all North Carolina workers. This would help workers with family members who may need assistance with their care. In addition, paid caregivers, who are less likely to have sick leave and more likely to earn low incomes, have little choice other than to go to work when sick, potentially passing that sickness on to those with compromised immune systems.

In a recent poll conducted by our organization, we found that 1 in 6 employees in North Carolina is providing care to a family member or friend. And as baby boomers age, elder care responsibilities will only continue to rise.

Not only are more workers providing elder care, many working North Carolinians are suffering financially due to their care-giving roles. We also found that 8 in 10 North Carolina workers say that employers should be required to provide a minimum number of paid sick days to full-time employees.

The public support for paid sick days is there.

Robert N. Jackson

State director, AARP North Carolina

Raleigh