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Care More, Earn Less? The Association between Taking Paid Leave to Care for Sick Children and Wages among Swedish Parents

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  • Katarina Boye

Abstract

Wages are related to parenthood and to child-related absences from work. The link between leave to care for sick children (CSC) and wages is understudied, however. CSC may negatively influence human capital and work capacity, and send the employer signals about work commitment. The short spells of CSC make this form of leave particularly suitable for testing the signalling theory. This study analysed data from Swedish population registers and showed that CSC use was associated with lower wages, particularly among men, up to 13 years after the birth of the first child. The association was strongest at high wage levels. Self-selection of parents with certain unmeasured characteristics into (high) CSC use was one, but not the only, explanation. The results support the idea that child-related time off negatively influences wages through a signalling effect. In addition, human capital or work capacity may suffer with frequent CSC use.

Suggested Citation

  • Katarina Boye, 2019. "Care More, Earn Less? The Association between Taking Paid Leave to Care for Sick Children and Wages among Swedish Parents," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 33(6), pages 983-1001, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:33:y:2019:i:6:p:983-1001
    DOI: 10.1177/0950017019868138
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Lindahl, Erica & Rosenqvist, Olof & Selin, Håkan, 2023. "Gender-targeted transfers by default? - Evidence from a child allowance reform in Sweden," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    2. Eleonora Matteazzi & Stefani Scherer, 2021. "Gender Wage Gap and the Involvement of Partners in Household Work," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 35(3), pages 490-508, June.
    3. Anne Grönlund & Ida Öun, 2020. "Minding the Care Gap: Daycare Usage and the Negotiation of Work, Family and Gender Among Swedish Parents," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 151(1), pages 259-280, August.

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