JOEM: Disparities in Access to Paid Sick Leave (May 2023)-JOEM: Disparities in Access to Paid Sick Leave (MAY 2023)

JOEM: Disparities in Access to Paid Sick Leave (MAY 2023)

Pdf Summary

This study examines disparities in access to paid sick leave in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The study finds that 65.6% of workers had access to paid sick leave. Access to paid sick leave was lowest among Hispanic workers, workers with less than a high school education, and workers without health insurance coverage. The study highlights that access to paid sick leave varied by age group, sex, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, region, health insurance coverage, receiving public assistance, income, occupation, and industry. The introduction of mandatory paid sick leave may serve to protect workers from the spread of infectious diseases. The study underscores the importance of addressing disparities in access to paid sick leave to promote public health and reduce economic hardship for vulnerable populations. Overall, the study reveals the wide disparities in access to paid sick leave during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may be associated with disparities in the risk for COVID-19.

Keywords

disparities

access to paid sick leave

COVID-19 pandemic

United States

Hispanic workers

education

health insurance coverage

age group

sex

race/ethnicity