Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/252067 
Year of Publication: 
2022
Series/Report no.: 
CESifo Working Paper No. 9550
Publisher: 
Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo), Munich
Abstract: 
We investigate the impact on work absence of a massive reduction in paid sick leave benefits. We exploit a policy change that only affected public sector workers in Spain and compare changes in the number and length of spells they take relative to unaffected private sector workers. Our results highlight a large drop in frequency mostly offset by increases in duration. Overall, the policy did reduce the number of days lost to sick leave. For some however, return to work was premature as we document very large increases in both the proportion of relapses and, especially in the number of working accidents. The displacement towards this latter (unaffected) benefit cancels out almost two-fifths of the estimated gains in terms of days lost to absences from cutting sick leave generosity.
Subjects: 
sickness insurance
paid sick leave
absenteeism
presenteeism
relapses
contagious diseases
benefit displacement
working accidents
Spain
JEL: 
I12
I13
I18
J22
J28
J32
Document Type: 
Working Paper
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