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Awareness and use of (emergency) sick leave: US employees’ unaddressed sick leave needs in a global pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Emma Jelliffe

    (Department of Policy Analysis and Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853)

  • Paul Pangburn

    (Department of Policy Analysis and Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853)

  • Stefan Pichler

    (Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Nicolas R. Ziebarth

    (Department of Policy Analysis and Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853)

Abstract

We study US sick leave use and unaddressed sick leave needs in the midst of the global severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS COV 2) pandemic based on a representative survey. More than half of all US employees are unaware of the new emergency sick leave options provided by the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Awareness and take-up rates are significantly higher among Asian Americans and lower among the foreign-born. About 8 million employees used emergency sick leave in the first 6 to 8 mo. Nevertheless, the share of employees who needed but could not take paid sick leave tripled in the pandemic; unaddressed sick leave needs total 15 million employees per month and are 69% higher among women. Our findings show that access to paid sick leave significantly reduces unaddressed sick leave needs. We conclude that given the fragmented US sick leave landscape, to address the strong increase in unaddressed sick leave needs during the pandemic, federal FFCRA response was not adequate.

Suggested Citation

  • Emma Jelliffe & Paul Pangburn & Stefan Pichler & Nicolas R. Ziebarth, 2021. "Awareness and use of (emergency) sick leave: US employees’ unaddressed sick leave needs in a global pandemic," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 118(29), pages 2107670118-, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nas:journl:v:118:y:2021:p:e2107670118
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Maclean, J. Catherine & Pichler, Stefan & Ziebarth, Nicolas R., 2020. "Mandated Sick Pay: Coverage, Utilization, and Welfare Effects," IZA Discussion Papers 13132, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Martin Andersen & Johanna Catherine Maclean & Michael F. Pesko & Kosali Simon, 2023. "Does paid sick leave encourage staying at home? Evidence from the United States during a pandemic," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(6), pages 1256-1283, June.
    3. Heather Kolakowski & Mardelle McCuskey Shepley & Ellie Valenzuela-Mendoza & Nicolas R. Ziebarth, 2021. "How the COVID-19 Pandemic Will Change Workplaces, Healthcare Markets and Healthy Living: An Overview and Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-19, September.
    4. Andrew Taeho Kim & Matt Erickson & Yurong Zhang & ChangHwan Kim, 2022. "Who is the “She” in the Pandemic “She-Cession”? Variation in COVID-19 Labor Market Outcomes by Gender and Family Status," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(3), pages 1325-1358, June.

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