Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current
    • Ahead of print
    • Archive
    • Supplementary Material
  • Info for
    • Authors
    • Subscribers
    • Institutions
    • Advertisers
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
  • Connect
    • Feedback
    • Help
    • Request JHR at your library
  • Alerts
  • Free Issue
  • Special Issue
  • Other Publications
    • UWP

User menu

  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • My alerts
  • Log in
  • My Cart

Search

  • Advanced search
Journal of Human Resources
  • Other Publications
    • UWP
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • My alerts
  • Log in
  • My Cart
Journal of Human Resources

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current
    • Ahead of print
    • Archive
    • Supplementary Material
  • Info for
    • Authors
    • Subscribers
    • Institutions
    • Advertisers
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
  • Connect
    • Feedback
    • Help
    • Request JHR at your library
  • Alerts
  • Free Issue
  • Special Issue
  • Follow uwp on Twitter
  • Follow JHR on Bluesky
Research ArticleArticle

The Effect of Paid Sick Leave Mandates on Coverage, Work Absences, and Presenteeism

Kevin Callison and Michael F. Pesko
Published online before print May 12, 2020, 1017-9124R2; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.57.4.1017-9124R2
Kevin Callison
Kevin Callison is an assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal St., New Orleans, LA 70112; email . Michael F. Pesko is an assistant professor in the Department of Economics at the Georgia State University Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, P.O. Box 3992, Atlanta, GA 30302; email .
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • For correspondence: [email protected] [email protected]
Michael F. Pesko
Kevin Callison is an assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal St., New Orleans, LA 70112; email . Michael F. Pesko is an assistant professor in the Department of Economics at the Georgia State University Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, P.O. Box 3992, Atlanta, GA 30302; email .
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • For correspondence: [email protected] [email protected]
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Supplemental
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

We evaluate the impact of paid sick leave (PSL) mandates on PSL coverage, work absences, and presenteeism (i.e. attending work while sick) for private sector workers in the U.S. Our identification strategy relies on geographic and temporal variation in mandate enactment, as well as within-county variation in the propensity to gain PSL following a mandate. We find that PSL mandates increase coverage rates and work absences for those most likely to gain coverage, and that these effects are larger for women and households with children. We also provide evidence that PSL mandates reduce the rate of presenteeism.

Key Words
  • Paid sick leave
  • labor market
  • work absence
  • presenteeism
JEL Classification Codes
  • I18
  • I12
  • J21
  • J23
  • J32

This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.

Log in using your username and password

Forgot your user name or password?

Purchase access

You may purchase access to this article. This will require you to create an account if you don't already have one.
Next
Back to top

In this issue

Journal of Human Resources: 60 (3)
Journal of Human Resources
Vol. 60, Issue 3
1 May 2025
  • Table of Contents
  • Table of Contents (PDF)
  • Index by author
  • Front Matter (PDF)
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on Journal of Human Resources.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
The Effect of Paid Sick Leave Mandates on Coverage, Work Absences, and Presenteeism
(Your Name) has sent you a message from Journal of Human Resources
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the Journal of Human Resources web site.
Citation Tools
The Effect of Paid Sick Leave Mandates on Coverage, Work Absences, and Presenteeism
Kevin Callison, Michael F. Pesko
Journal of Human Resources May 2020, 1017-9124R2; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.57.4.1017-9124R2

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
The Effect of Paid Sick Leave Mandates on Coverage, Work Absences, and Presenteeism
Kevin Callison, Michael F. Pesko
Journal of Human Resources May 2020, 1017-9124R2; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.57.4.1017-9124R2
Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One
Bookmark this article

Jump to section

  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Supplemental
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • Improving health and economic security by reducing work schedule uncertainty
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • Do Higher Salaries Yield Better Teachers and Better Student Outcomes?
  • The Consequences of Performance Standards in Need-Based Aid
  • In-State College Enrollment and Later Life Location Decisions
Show more Article

Similar Articles

Keywords

  • Paid sick leave
  • Labor Market
  • work absence
  • presenteeism
  • I18
  • I12
  • J21
  • J23
  • J32
UW Press logo

© 2025 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System

Powered by HighWire