Denise Barlage works as a grocery cashier in Huntington Park, near Los Angeles. She said she used some paid sick leave when she recently caught a virus. The rest of her guaranteed three days were quickly used up on twice monthly doctors appointments for her recent diagnosis of osteoporosis.

Barlage said she earns an hour of paid time off per 60 hours worked, which she’s trying to save to be able to attend the appointments.

With no paid sick leave left, she faces a costly choice if she gets sick: Come into work anyway and risk infecting the community. Or stay home, lose wages and risk her job.

It’s a common dilemma. Nearly two-thirds of Californians live paycheck to paycheck. Missing a day of work without pay can mean not putting food on the table or making rent.

Barlage, who also leads the Fair Workweek LA Coalition, is one of many labor advocates pushing California lawmakers to increase the minimum paid sick days from three to seven per year.

“Companies aren’t going to give it to us,” Barlage said. “It’s going to be our politicians who recognize workers as the strong build of this community.”

The law would apply to all employers regardless of size. Employer groups, led by the California Chamber of Commerce, say many businesses can’t afford the change and would pass the cost on to customers or cut jobs, wages or other benefits.

Proponents, including Oakland small business owner Catherean Mitchell, argue paid sick leave ultimately protects a business’s bottom line by...

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