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The Anatomy of U.S. Sick Leave Schemes: Evidence from Public School Teachers

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Listed:
  • Christopher J. Cronin
  • Matthew C. Harris
  • Nicolas R. Ziebarth

Abstract

We study how public school teachers use paid sick leave. Most U.S. sick leave schemes operate as individualized credit accounts – paid leave is earned and unused leave accumulates, producing an employee-specific leave balance. We construct a unique data set from administrative records containing the daily balances and leave behavior of 982 teachers from 2010- 2018. We find that sick leave use increases during flu season. We do not find evidence that the average teacher uses sick leave for leisure; however, there is evidence of such behavior among certain subsets of teachers (e.g., young, inexperienced teachers). Usage increases with leave balance; the elasticity is around 0.4. Further, higher balances reduce the likelihood that teachers work sick, particularly during flu season.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher J. Cronin & Matthew C. Harris & Nicolas R. Ziebarth, 2022. "The Anatomy of U.S. Sick Leave Schemes: Evidence from Public School Teachers," NBER Working Papers 29956, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:29956
    Note: AG ED EH LS PE
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I13 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Insurance, Public and Private
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • J28 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Safety; Job Satisfaction; Related Public Policy
    • J32 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Nonwage Labor Costs and Benefits; Retirement Plans; Private Pensions
    • J38 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Public Policy

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