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Essential Support: State Hazard Pay and Sick Leave Policies for Direct Care Workers During COVID-19

Report
July 12, 2022
Essential Support: State Hazard Pay and Sick Leave Policies for Direct Care Workers During COVID-19

This report details findings from a recent study by PHI on hazard pay and paid sick leave policies enacted across all 50 states and DC from March 2020 to August 2021 (the first 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic). The purpose of the study was to document how states responded to the challenges faced by direct care workers and other essential workers during one of the most devastating health crises in recent history—and to generate lessons for the future.

Key Takeaways

This report details findings from a recent study by PHI on hazard pay and paid sick leave policies enacted across all 50 states and DC from March 2020 to August 2021.
The study's purpose was to document how states responded to the challenges faced by direct care workers and other essential workers during one of the most devastating health crises in recent history.
While 24 states and the District of Columbia supported direct care workers with hazard pay and/or paid sick leave policies during the first 18 months of COVID-19, 26 states did not.
 
Contributing Authors
Kezia Scales & Stephen McCall

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