Rural-Urban Differences in Workers' Access to Paid Sick Leave

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Rural Health Disparities

Background:

• Paid sick leave (PSL) is crucial for healthcare access and health outcomes.
• The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of PSL as a public health strategy.
• Limited research exists on PSL access for rural workers in the United States.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate and compare PSL prevalence between rural and urban workers.
• To identify characteristics associated with lower PSL access among rural workers.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the 2014-2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.
• Estimated unadjusted and adjusted PSL prevalence.
• Analyzed demographic and employment characteristics of rural workers.

Main Results:

• Rural workers exhibited lower PSL access than urban workers, even after adjustments.
• PSL access was lowest for Hispanic rural workers, those without employer-sponsored insurance, and those reporting poorer health.
• Identified specific subgroups of rural workers facing significant PSL barriers.

Conclusions:

• Lower paid sick leave access among rural workers poses a significant threat to their health and healthcare.
• Addressing rural PSL disparities is essential for public health emergencies and long-term well-being.
• Findings have implications for policy interventions aimed at improving worker protections in rural areas.