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Mandated Sick Pay: Coverage, Utilization, and Crowding-in

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  • Johanna Catherine Maclean
  • Stefan Pichler
  • Nicolas R Ziebarth

Abstract

Using the National Compensation Survey from 2009 to 2022 and difference-in-differences methods, we find that state-level sick pay mandates are effective in broadening access to paid sick leave for U.S. workers. Increases in sick pay coverage reach 30 percentage points from a 63% baseline 5 years post-mandate. Mandates have more bite in jobs with low pre-mandate coverage. Further, mandates reduce inequality in access to paid sick leave substantially, both across and within firms. COVID-19 reinforced existing upward trends in coverage and take-up. Five years post mandate, sick leave use has linearly increased to 2.4 days per year for marginal jobs. Finally, we find crowding-in of non-mandated benefits, which we label “job upscaling” by firms to differentiate jobs and attract labor.

Suggested Citation

  • Johanna Catherine Maclean & Stefan Pichler & Nicolas R Ziebarth, 2025. "Mandated Sick Pay: Coverage, Utilization, and Crowding-in," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 23(5), pages 1868-1907.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jeurec:v:23:y:2025:i:5:p:1868-1907.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/jeea/jvaf008
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