Res. No. 1430 Title Resolution calling upon the New York City Department of Employment to track the causes of absenteeism in the work place in order to determine and adequately assess the impact of the asthma epidemic on worker productivity. Body By Council Members Fisher, Robles, Wooten, Berman, Carrion, Eisland, Freed, Lopez, Marshall and Nelson; also Council Members Linares, Michels, O'Donovan, Robinson and Sabini Whereas, The continued health of the New York City economy is vital to the quality of life currently enjoyed by its citizens; and Whereas, High worker productivity is the engine that runs the economy; and Whereas, It is therefore vital to be able to assess factors that have a negative impact on worker productivity; and Whereas, New York City is presently in the midst of an asthma epidemic; and Whereas, The United States Environmental Protection Agency has reported that asthma costs the country billions of dollars in worker productivity; and Whereas, The United States Environmental Protection Agency has also reported that asthma levels in many neighborhoods in New York City are well above the national average; and Whereas, The extent to which the asthma epidemic has affected worker productivity has not been determined or assessed; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York City Department of Employment to track the causes of absenteeism in the work place in order to determine and adequately assess the impact of the asthma epidemic on worker productivity.