Access And Usage Of Paid Sick Leave In African American Caregiving

Abstract

This two-study dissertation offers a critical analysis of family resilience amid the demands of formal wage employment and the usage of paid sick leave access on family functioning and cohesion for African American employed caregivers. The research significance arises from its trifold emphasis on 1) how paid sick leave access and usage affect family-level outcomes, 2) how the asynchrony of paid sick leave access and usage influences African American employed caregivers’ perceptions of family functioning and cohesion, and 3) how families negotiate work expectations and family priorities. Using qualitative focus group data and survey data from African American caregivers, both studies found paid sick leave usage influenced family-level outcomes and more importantly family outcomes were related to how workers’ supervisors understood their need to take sick leave. Workers who felt that supervisors were aware of the importance of their health needs and those of their dependents and supported their decision to take care of those needs, reported better family-related outcomes.