Can New Paid Sick Leave Laws Reach Excluded Workers and Support Older Workers to Stay Employed, Economically Secure, and Meet Retirement Goals?
Grant Type
26-58165-08
Publication Date
3-30-2026
Description
Job security and flexibility are critical components of job quality for workers facing health and caregiving challenges. Identifying policies that support labor force attachment is particularly important given newly-passed work requirements affecting those over age 55. Paid leave policies, often studied in the context of supporting young families, hold potential to support the labor force attachment, employment, and economic security of older adults.1 This study will use a difference-in-differences (DID)2,3 approach to identify the impact of paid sick leave (PSL) laws on the employment and economic security of older adults using data from the American Community Survey. 4 The specific research questions include: What is the impact of PSL laws on (1) older adults' employment, income, and poverty status and (2) retirement timing?; and (3) How do results vary for excluded and higher need subgroups of workers? Results will inform policy discussions related to poverty, retirement, and paid leave.