Despite the widespread need to take leave from work when faced with a caregiving obligation or when welcoming a new child to the family, many workers in the U.S. lack comprehensive paid leave with job protection and so are forced to choose between taking care of their families or preserving their jobs.
Unstable and unpredictable work schedules continue to be the norm for service sector workers – especially for workers of color, and for women of color in particular.
This brief examines service sector workers’ need for and use of paid family and medical leave during the COVID19 pandemic.