Low-wage workers in the US were the most likely to report missing work due to COVID-19 but the least likely to have access to paid sick days or family leave. As many required time off from work to quarantine, recover from serious symptoms, or to care for others, workers were sometimes forced to forgo wages and left without enough food to eat.
Pre-pandemic, 24 percent of US workers did not receive paid sick leave, and 81 percent did not receive paid family leave. Paid sick leave covers short periods of illness. Paid family leave includes time off to recover from extended medical problems or to care for family members, including the period immediately after the birth or adoption of a child. Gaps in paid leave benefits persisted into the pandemic and appear likely to continue even with the present congressional considerations to pass paid leave expansions through budget reconciliation. Legislative efforts to expand paid sick and family leave will be most impactful if they ensure expanded eligibility reaches the lowest-income workers and guarantee minimum benefit amounts. (author introduction)