State Mandated Paid Sick Days (PSL): Exploring Who Knows and Who Uses PSL for Preventative Care

• In Event: 30812 - Social Policy

Abstract

The United States remains the only industrialized nation without national legislation guaranteeing universal paid sick leave (PSL). Consequently, access to PSL varies considerably by state and employer. This study draws on an original survey of workers in Arizona and Michigan—two states with mandated PSL—to examine how knowledge and use of PSL for preventative care differs across sociodemographic characteristics, including race, gender, income, education, and occupation. This survey finds large differences by household income in awareness that PSL covers preventative care, with lower‐income workers less likely to know about their coverage. Having a college degree also correlates with greater knowledge and use PSL and more generic leave for preventative care. In line with Fundamental Cause Theory, these patterns suggest that those with more education and those with higher incomes are more likely to know and to benefit from state mandated PSL. In contrast, lower‐income populations, who may need coverage most, do not benefit from PSL as much if they remain unaware of their entitlements and use them less when they do know. To broaden the impact of state‐level PSL mandates, policymakers should focus on improving dissemination of information on PSL and increased enforcement of PSL for employers, especially focusing on lower‐income jobs and service/trade sector jobs. If state mandated PSL policies are effectively communicated and enforced, PSL could provide an important health promoting resource allowing increased access to preventative care for those with limited flexibility for obtaining such care.

Author

• Olivia Taylor Neff, Purdue University