PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Pichler, Stefan
AU  - Ziebarth, Nicolas R.
TI  - Labor Market Effects of U.S. Sick Pay Mandates
AID  - 10.3368/jhr.55.3.0117-8514R2
DP  - 2020 Mar 31
TA  - Journal of Human Resources
PG  - 611--659
VI  - 55
IP  - 2
4099  - http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/55/2/611.short
4100  - http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/55/2/611.full
SO  - J Hum Resour2020 Mar 31; 55
AB  - This paper exploits temporal and spatial variation in the implementation of nine city- and four state-level U.S. sick pay mandates to assess their labor market consequences. We use the synthetic control group method and traditional difference-in-differences models along with the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages to estimate the causal effects of mandated sick pay on employment and wages. We do not find much evidence that employment or wages were significantly affected by the mandates that typically allow employees to earn one hour of paid sick leave per work week, up to seven days per year. Employment decreases of 2 percent lie outside the 92 percent confidence interval and wage decreases of 3 percent lie outside the 95 percent confidence interval.