Paid sick leave and cancer-related outcomes in the U.S. workforce: evidence from a scoping review

Paid sick leave policies vary significantly across the United States and are known to influence access to and utilization of health services. However, little is known about how access to paid sick leave affects cancer-related outcomes such as screening, diagnosis, treatment adherence, and survivorship care.

This scoping review aimed to systematically map the literature on the association between paid sick leave and cancer-related outcomes among working adults in the United States and to identify gaps to inform future research and policy.

The following databases were searched: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Scopus. Eligible studies included quantitative research conducted in the U.S. that evaluated paid sick leave in relation to any cancer-related outcome. Study findings were synthesized narratively and thematically, and critical appraisal of included studies was conducted.

A total of 11 studies were included in the review. The majority of studies focused on cancer screening adherence (N = 9/11) and found a positive association between access to paid sick leave (either via self-report or at a state/municipal level) and cancer screening rates for breast, colorectal, and cervical cancers (N = 7/9). Treatment and survivorship outcomes were infrequently analyzed.

Policymakers should consider implementing paid sick leave mandates to ensure timely initiation of cancer screening among working adults, a critical priority given rising rates of some early-onset cancers, including colorectal cancer.