If Sick-Leave becomes More Costly, Will I go back to Work? Could it be too soon?

Olivier Marie and Judit Vall-Castello
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Judit Vall Castello

No 14899, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: We investigate the impact on work absence of a massive reduction in paid sick leave benefits. We exploit a policy change that only affected public sector workers in Spain and compare changes in the number and length of spells they take relative to unaffected private sector workers. Our results highlight a large drop in frequency mostly offset by increases in average duration. Overall, the policy did reduce number of days lost to sick leave. For some, however, return to work may have been premature as we document huge increases in both the proportion of relapses and working accidents rates.

Keywords: Sickness insurance; Paid sick leave; Absenteeism; Presenteeism; Relapses contagious diseases; Benefit displacement; Working accidents; Negative externalities; Spain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 I13 I18 J22 J28 J32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eur and nep-ias
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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Related works:
Working Paper: If sick-leave becomes more costly, will I go back to work? Could it be too soon? (2020)
Working Paper: If Sick-Leave Becomes More Costly, Will I Go Back to Work? Could It Be Too Soon? (2020)
Working Paper: If Sick-Leave becomes More Costly, Will I go back to Work? Could it be too soon? (2020)
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