Does Paid Sick Leave Facilitate Reproductive Choice?
The U.S. does not have a federal paid sick leave (PSL) policy; however, multiple states have adopted PSL mandates which compel employers to provide employees with, on average, seven days of PSL per year. PSL can facilitate healthcare use among women of child-bearing ages, including use of family planning services. We combine administrative, health insurance claims, and survey data with difference-in-differences methods to shed light on these possibilities. Our findings indicate that state PSL mandates reduce birth rates, potentially through increased use of contraceptive services, and changes in employment and marital status post-mandate.
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