The impact of state paid sick leave policies on weekday workplace mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate whether the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) modified the association between pre-existing state paid sick leave (PSL) and weekday workplace mobility between February 15 and July 7, 2020. STUDY DESIGN: This was a longitudinal, observational study. METHODS: The 50 US states and Washington, D.C., were divided into exposure groups based on the presence or absence of pre-existing state PSL policies. Derived from Google COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports, the outcome was measured as the daily percent change in weekday workplace mobility. Mixed-effects, interrupted time series regression was performed to evaluate weekday workplace mobility after the implementation of the FFCRA on April 1, 2020. RESULTS: States with pre-existing PSL policies exhibited a greater drop in mobility following the passage of the FFCRA (β = −8.86, 95% confidence interval: −11.6, −6.10, P < 001). This remained significant after adjusting for state-level health, economic, and sociodemographic indicators (β = −3.13, 95% confidence interval: −5.92, −0.34; P = .039). CONCLUSIONS: Pre-existing PSL policies were associated with a significant decline in weekday workplace mobility after the FFCRA, which may have influenced local health outcomes. The presence of pre-existing state policies may differentially influence the impact of federal legislation enacted during emergencies.