Wow, I agree with Primo on this, though he was much wordier than I would be.
Sick time is part of the 'benefits package', or as the employer sees it 'financial package'. The employer is essentially willing to pay $X/hour. Things like wages, medical benefits, pension, vacation time, and yes sick time too are all part of that.
As an employee, when time for collective bargaining comes, I can ask for the inclusion of sick time as an added benefit. But I also have to expect one of my other benefits will take a hit for it to be included. My employer may say yes, but in return I end up not getting any raises for the duration of the CA.
Is sick time abused? By some certainly. By others, it's not. I can use my father as an example. He was a provincial employee, yet he used his sick time only when he was hospitalized or under a doctor's care. When he retired, he had over a month's worth of sick time banked.
Now for those complaining about the absurdity of sick time, what about vacation time, employer funded pension plans, medical benefits? Aren't they just as ridiculous? Why should the employer pay someone to take time off? Why should the employer be setting money aside for when the employee retires? Why should the employer pay for an employee's medications, dental care or glasses? Shouldn't that be on the employee's dime?
As an employee who doesn't have sick time, I do have to answer the question "do I go to work sick, or do I miss a day's pay?" and the answer is usually work. Now, I work in grocery retail, so I handle your food. Doesn't that sound great? A person who's sick is handling your food. So yes, you'd better wash your produce. Not only that, I'm exposing my coworkers, managers, but also my customers to what I have. Tell me now you would have preferred me to stay home. Also, how much less productive am I?
I find it funny, my employer has signs posted up saying if your sick stay home, yet they refuse to budge on sick time, and as such have employees coming in sick on a regular basis.