The Impact of Job Protection on Paid Leave Use and Post-Leave Employment: Evidence from Administrative Data
Grant Type
Early Career Research Award
Publication Date
3-30-2026
Description
The prevalence of low wage and unstable work has increased in recent decades, with concurrent decreases in job flexibility and employer-provided benefits. To address unequal access to employer provided leave, thirteen states and the District of Columbia have passed paid family leave programs. A growing literature finds that paid leave supports the economic stability and health of workers. However, no studies assess the impact of employment protections within paid leave programs. Using administrative data and a regression discontinuity design, we will evaluate the impact of job protections in the Washington Paid Leave Program on paid leave use and post-leave employment. We will also assess heterogeneity in the effect of job protection by worker and employment characteristics. Our project will be the first to study job protections in the context of paid leave, providing causal evidence related to the design of paid leave programs and employment law in the United States.