Philadelphia’s Mandated Paid Sick Leave: An Analysis of Workers’ Claims Making

• In Event: Organizations, Occupations, and Work Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 18: Policies and Organizations

Abstract

This preliminary study examines the impacts of mandated paid sick leave in Philadelphia, PA on workers’ decision-making processes surrounding whether they decide to ask their employers to take leave or not. Existing research demonstrates that paid sick leave has positive impacts on workers and the local economy. Yet, some workers still do not take it even after mandates pass. I examine these research questions through the lens of public policy, neoinstitutional theory, and relational inequality. Preliminary findings indicate that although Philadelphia has a strong history of union participation, labor law for workers not covered by collective bargaining agreements has not been strongly enforced or regulated. Further, the current political and social climate due to recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement has impacted Philadelphia workers by creating a culture of fear, impacting their ability to assert their rights.

Author

• MaryTherese Escueta, University of Delaware