More broadly, he said, Microsoft decided it was necessary given the company’s dependence on contractors. “The research shows that employees who do get these kinds of benefits are far likelier to be happier, have higher morale and are far more likely to be productive,” he said.

“If people are sick,” he added, “it’s not necessarily good to have them go to work because they can infect their colleagues.”

The United States is the only advanced economy that does not require paid sick leave, and 43 million workers do not have it, the president said in his address.

In the absence of federal action on workplace issues including minimum wage, some companies like Aetna and Starbucks have made changes themselves. Three states (California, Connecticut and Massachusetts) and a smattering of cities have passed paid sick leave policies.

But an approach like Microsoft’s is much more unusual.

Derecka Mehrens, executive director of Working Partnerships U.S.A., said it was the responsibility of the bigger companies that employ the contractors to raise the standards.

“When you follow the money, the money comes from the tech companies, so ultimately they could raise the floor for our contract work force,” she said.

Ruth Milkman, a sociologist of labor at the City University of New York Graduate Center, said she was less optimistic that it would become common for big, wealthy companies to play this role.