JSIT23-04: Does access to paid sick leave facilitate the employment of older workers?

As life expectancy has increased, there has been political pressure to raise the age for retirement benefit claims, even though many American workers detach from the labor market in their 50s and are no longer in paid full-time employment by their early 60s. Thus, it is critical to evaluate health and labor policies that may support retirement-insecure, low-wage workers to extend their employment to reduce poverty among older Americans and improve equity. By offering workers the flexibility to address health and caregiving needs, paid sick leave (PSL) may support older workers to maintain employment intensity. However, the inequitable distribution of employer-provided PSL may reinforce other inequalities during this phase of the life course.
Research on PSL has established associations with improved employment and health in the general population. Despite the anticipated higher need for PSL among older workers, however, little is known about the role of PSL access on older workers' employment and income. Using data from the National Health Interview Survey, the study will 1) create temporal and age profiles of industries to assess whether PSL access is associated with a higher proportion of older workers vis-à-vis retirees, using cohorts based on SSA benefit eligibility, full eligibility age, and delayed retirement credits; and 2) explore the association between access to paid sick leave and employment intensity among older workers. Results will support understanding of the potential of state and local leave policies to support the employment of older workers.