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In the issue brief, researchers use simulation results from the Worker Paid Leave Usage Simulation (Worker PLUS) Model to analyze the impacts of moving from the unpaid leave system under the current Family and Medical Leave Act to a system that includes a paid leave program that adopts the program rules of the existing program in California. The population considered consists of individuals who work in the state of Maryland who meet the eligibility rules of the California program, and among them, the low-wage workers who earn no more than $30,000 annually.

In the issue brief, researchers provide a benchmarking study of the Worker Paid Leave Usage Simulation (Worker PLUS) Model simulation results. The results from the Worker PLUS model are compared to those from an existing paid leave simulation model developed by Albelda and Clayton-Matthews (2017, the ACM model) and actual program administrative data. Simulation results compared include program benefit outlays and program participation for three state paid leave programs in California, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.

In the issue brief, researchers report findings from testing and validating the Worker Paid Leave Usage Simulation (Worker PLUS) using data from the 2018 U.S. Department of Labor Family and Medical Leave Act Employee Survey; the 2014–2018 American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample; and benefit outlay data published by state paid leave programs in California, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. The brief also discusses the implication of the model testing results on choice of simulation methods, assessment of program take-up rates, and estimation of program benefit outlays.

The issue brief provides a step-by-step guide to using the Worker Paid Leave Usage Simulation (Worker PLUS) Model to perform an example policy simulation of the recently proposed parental leave program for federal workers. The model uses as its intakes the 2018 U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Family and Medical Leave Act Employee Survey and the sample of civilian employees at the federal government from the 2014–2018 American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample and applies program parameters that best reflect the proposed leave program.

This is a companion document to the Worker Paid Leave Usage Simulation model, or Worker PLUS model, and is part of two supplementary resources on administrative costs. The second supplementary resource is an Excel template, titled “Administrative Cost Excel Template,” which presents a starting template of standard administrative cost categories observed in paid family and medical leave (PFML) programs as a platform to plan, estimate, and test the administrative costs of running a new program. The Excel template is available to users when they download the model.

This is a companion template to the Worker Paid Leave Usage Simulation model, or Worker PLUS model, and is part of two supplementary resources on administrative costs. It is a starting template of standard administrative cost categories observed in paid family and medical leave (PFML) programs as a platform to plan, estimate, and test the administrative costs of running a new program. The Excel template is available to users when they download the model.

In 2017, the Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) funded contractors IMPAQ International and the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) to conduct the Microsimulation Model on Worker Leave. The goal of the study was to produce an updated, open-source, publicly available simulation tool based on the Albelda Clayton-Matthews/IWPR Paid Family and Medical Leave Simulation Model (ACM model).

The purpose of this project is to provide evaluation technical support to CEO in leveraging data and expertise to assemble knowledge and answer questions of interest to DOL.

The 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows eligible employees working for covered employers to take up to 12 work weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for certain family and medical reasons.

The paper compares leave experiences of low-wage and non-low wage workers using data from the 2018 Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Employee Survey. It finds that in some ways experiences are similar—both groups take needed leave at similar rates for similar reasons. In other ways experiences are very different and worse for low-wage workers—they less commonly have access to paid leave or are eligible for FMLA protections and more commonly face adverse financial and job consequences from taking leave.