In the absence of a national paid sick leave policy, jurisdictions across the US have passed laws requiring employers to provide earned safe and sick day (ESSD) benefits to their employees. Although ESSD policies can support family economic stability and mobility, they may also perpetuate racial and gender inequalities through eligibility requirements and other provisions that limit access and exclude certain groups. The design of ESSD policies directly influences the ability to assess whether they’re equitable.

Led by researchers at the WORLD Policy Analysis Center at the University of California, Los Angeles, Fielding School of Public Health and advocacy leaders at Family Values @ Work, this project will systematically analyze key legislative features of local ESSD policies across all 50 states, including equity provisions aimed at closing gaps in access and uptake of benefits. The project team will share their findings through a public-use dataset, compelling and accessible data visualizations, and policy briefs and presentations to inform debates on ESSD policies. These data and insights will equip advocacy partners and decisionmakers with the evidence they need to design policies that lead to equitable outcomes.