Abstract: This paper empirically evaluates the impact of employer sick pay mandates on sick pay coverage, utilization, and labor costs in the U.S. We also investigate substitution effects by estimating the impact on non-mandated fringe benefits such as paid vacation days. We use the National Compensation Survey along with Difference-in-Differences and triple differences models to estimate the causal effects of mandates in four states and eight cities. In the first two post-mandate years, the likelihood of having sick pay coverage increases significantly by 9 percentage points from a baseline level of 64 percent; coverage remains stable at this level for at least four more years. We find that newly covered employees take about two additional sick days in the first quarter of the year. These additional sick days increase labor costs by about 23 cents per hour worked for marginal firms. However, we find very little evidence that mandated sick pay crowd-out other non-mandated paid leave benefits.
Sandwiches served from 12.15
Presented by:
Dr Nicolas Ziebarth, Cornell University
Date & time:
January 16, 2019 12:30 pm - January 16, 2019 1:30 pm
Venue:
ISER large seminar room, 2N2 4.16
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