This article is a Preprint
Preprints are preliminary research reports that have not been certified by peer review. They should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Preprints posted online allow authors to receive rapid feedback and the entire scientific community can appraise the work for themselves and respond appropriately. Those comments are posted alongside the preprints for anyone to read them and serve as a post publication assessment.
Inequalities in access to paid sick leave among workers in England and Wales (preprint)
medrxiv; 2022.
Preprint
in English
| medRxiv | ID: ppzbmed-10.1101.2022.01.30.22270112
ABSTRACT
Background It is poorly understood which workers lack access to sick pay in England and Wales. This evidence gap has been of particular interest in the context of the Covid-19 epidemic given the relationship between presenteeism and infectious disease transmission. Method This cross-sectional analysis is nested within a large community cohort study of Covid-19 epidemiology in England and Wales (Virus Watch). An online survey in February 2021 asked participants if they had access to paid sick leave. We use a fixed effect logistic regression model to examine sociodemographic factors associated with lacking access to sick pay. Results 8,874 participants in work responded to the survey item about access to sick pay. Of those, 5,864 (66%) report having access to sick pay, 2,218 (25%) report no access to sick pay and 792 (8.9%) were unsure. Workers aged 45-64 (OR 1.72) and over 65 (OR 5.26) are more likely to lack access to sick pay compared to workers aged 25-44. South Asian workers (OR 1.40) and those from Other minority ethnic backgrounds (OR 2.93) are more likely to lack access to sick pay compared to White British workers. Workers in low income households (OR 1.43-2.53) and those with working class occupations (OR 2.04-5.29) are also more likely to lack access to sick pay compared to those in high income households and managerial occupations. Discussion Unwarranted age and race inequalities in sick pay access are suggestive of labour market discrimination. Occupational differences are also cause for concern. Policymakers should consider expanding access to sick pay to mitigate transmission of Covid-19 and other endemic infectious disease epidemics in the community.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
Preprints
Database:
medRxiv
Main subject:
Communicable Diseases
/
COVID-19
Language:
English
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Preprint
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS