Paid leave and the pandemic: New evidence from Families First and lessons for federal policymakers

In early 2021, Equitable Growth invested in new research exploring the role that Families First and other paid leave laws played in the COVID-19 pandemic. Particularly, this research looked at how new or existing paid leave laws impacted leave-taking behavior, economic and personal well-being, and social distancing and public health amid the evolving public health emergency.

This event featured presentations from Equitable Growth grantees Jane Waldfogel of Columbia University, Kristin F. Butcher of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and Elena Patel of the University of Utah. These presentations were followed by a discussion with fellow researchers and policy experts on the implications and lessons learned for paid leave policy, both in times of public health crises and beyond.