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Support for Paid Family Leave among Small Employers Increases during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Listed:
  • Ann P. Bartel
  • Maya Rossin-Slater
  • Christopher J. Ruhm
  • Meredith Slopen
  • Jane Waldfogel

Abstract

The United States is one of the few countries that does not guarantee paid family leave (PFL) to workers. Proposals for PFL legislation are often met with opposition from employer organizations, who fear disruptions to business, especially among small employers. But there has been limited data on employers’ views. We surveyed firms with 10-99 employees in New York and New Jersey on their attitudes towards PFL programs before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We found high support for state PFL programs in 2019 that rose substantially over the course of the pandemic: by the fall of 2020, almost 70% of firms were supportive. Increases in support were larger among firms that had an employee use PFL, suggesting that experience with PFL led to employers becoming more supportive. Thus, concerns about negative impacts on small employers should not impede efforts to expand PFL at the state or federal levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Ann P. Bartel & Maya Rossin-Slater & Christopher J. Ruhm & Meredith Slopen & Jane Waldfogel, 2021. "Support for Paid Family Leave among Small Employers Increases during the COVID-19 Pandemic," NBER Working Papers 29486, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:29486
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bartel, Ann P. & Rossin-Slater, Maya & Ruhm, Christopher J. & Slopen, Meredith & Waldfogel, Jane, 2021. "The Impact of Paid Family Leave on Employers: Evidence from New York," IZA Discussion Papers 14262, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H50 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - General
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • J38 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Public Policy

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