Trends and Disparities in Leave Use Under California's Paid Family Leave Program: New Evidence from Administrative Data

Authors

Sarah H. Bana, Chapman UniversityFollow
Kelly Bedard, University of California, Santa Barbara
Maya Rossin-Slater, Stanford University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2018

Abstract

We use novel administrative data to study trends and disparities in usage of California's first-in-the-nation paid family leave (PFL) program. We show that take-up for both bonding with a new child and caring for an ill family member increased over 2005–2014. Most women combine PFL with maternity leave from the State Disability Insurance system, resulting in leaves longer than 6 weeks. Most men take less than the full 6 weeks of PFL. Individuals in the lowest earnings quartile and in small firms are the least likely to take leave. There are important differences in take-up across industries, especially for men.

Comments

This article was originally published in AEA Papers & Proceedings, volume 108, in 2018. https://doi.org/10.1257/pandp.20181113

Replication package available at https://doi.org/10.3886/E114495V1.

Recommended Citation

Bana, Sarah, Kelly Bedard, and Maya Rossin-Slater. 2018. “Trends and Disparities in Leave Use under California’s Paid Family Leave Program: New Evidence from Administrative Data.” AEA Papers & Proceedings, 108: 388-91. https://doi.org/10.1257/pandp.20181113

Copyright

American Economic Association