Wage and Hour Division (WHD)
Chapter 2
Employees- Use of Leave
Table 2.1. Employees Taking Leave: 1995 and 2000 Surveys
Number of employees taking leave (for a covered reason) in
the previous 18 months** - 1995 Survey : 20,359,000
Number of employees
taking leave (for a covered reason) in the previous 18 months** - 2000 Survey :
23,830,000
Percent of employee population - - 1995 Survey : 16.0%
Percent
of employee population - - 2000 Survey : 16.5%
** Difference between
1995 and 2000 is significant at p<.05. Source: 1995 and 2000 Survey of
Employees.
Figure 2.1. Number of Leaves Taken: 2000 Survey (Percent of Leave-Takers)
1 leave : 75.2%
2 leaves: 14.5%
3 or more leaves:
10.2%
Figure 2.2. Length of Longest Leave: 2000 Survey (Percent of Leave-Takers)
0-10 Days: 54.1%
11- 40 Days: 26.8%
41-60 Days: 9.2 %
More than 60 Days: 9.9%
Table 2.2. Length of Second Longest Leave: 2000 Survey
Length of Second Longest Leave: 1 - 3 days
Percent of
Those Taking More Than One Leave: 42.9%
Length of Second Longest Leave:
4 - 5 days
Percent of Those Taking More Than One Leave: 26.3%
Length
of Second Longest Leave: 6 - 10 days
Percent of Those Taking More Than One
Leave: 14.1%
Length of Second Longest Leave: 11 - 20 days
Percent of
Those Taking More Than One Leave:7.4%
Length of Second Longest Leave:
More than 20 days
Percent of Those Taking More Than One Leave:
9.4%
Number of Leave-Takers Taking More Than One Leave:
5,676,524
Note: Column percents may not total to 100% due to rounding.
Source: 2000 Survey of Employees.
Table 2.3. Reasons for Taking Leave Across All Leaves Taken in Previous 18 Months: 2000 Survey
Reason for Leave: Own health
Percent of Leave-Takers:
52.4%
Reason for Leave: Maternity-disability
Percent of Leave-Takers:
7.9%
Reason for Leave: Care for a newborn, newly adopted, or newly
placed foster child
Percent of Leave-Takers: 18.5%
Reason for Leave:
Care for ill child
Percent of Leave-Takers: 11.5%
Reason for Leave:
Care for ill spouse
Percent of Leave-Takers: 6.4%
Reason for Leave:
Care for ill parent
Percent of Leave-Takers: 13.0%
Note: Percentages
sum to more than 100% due to some persons taking more than one leave. Source:
2000 Survey of Employees.
Reason for Leave: Own health
Percent of All Employees:
8.7%
Reason for Leave: Maternity-disability
Percent of All Employees:
1.3%
Reason for Leave: Care for a newborn, newly adopted, or newly
placed foster child
Percent of All Employees: 3.1%
Reason for Leave:
Care for ill child
Percent of All Employees: 1.9%
Reason for Leave:
Care for ill spouse
Percent of All Employees: 1.1%
Reason for Leave:
Care for ill parent
Percent of All Employees: 2.2%
Source: 2000
Survey of Employees.
Table 2.5. Employees' Reasons for Taking Longest Leave: 1995 and 2000 Surveys
Reason for Longest Leave: Own health**
Percent of
Leave-Takers 1995 Survey: 61.4%
Percent of Leave-Takers 2000 Survey:
47.2%
Reason for Longest Leave: Maternity-disability**
Percent of
Leave-Takers 1995 Survey: 4.6%
Percent of Leave-Takers 2000 Survey:
7.8%
Reason for Longest Leave: Care for a newborn, newly adopted, or
newly placed foster child
Percent of Leave-Takers 1995 Survey:
14.3%
Percent of Leave-Takers 2000 Survey: 17.9%
Reason for Longest
Leave: Care for ill child
Percent of Leave-Takers 1995 Survey:
8.5%
Percent of Leave-Takers 2000 Survey: 9.8%
Reason for Longest
Leave: Care for ill spouse**
Percent of Leave-Takers 1995 Survey:
3.6%
Percent of Leave-Takers 2000 Survey: 5.9%
Reason for Longest
Leave: Care for ill parent**
Percent of Leave-Takers 1995 Survey:
7.6%
Percent of Leave-Takers 2000 Survey: 11.4%
** Difference between
1995 and 2000 significant at p<.05.
Note: Column percents may not total
to 100% due to rounding.
Source: 1995 and 2000 Survey of Employees.
Table 2.6. Employees' Reasons for Second Longest Leave: 2000 Survey
Reason for Second Longest Leave: Own health
Percent of
Persons Taking More Than One Leave: 55.8%
Reason for Second Longest
Leave: Maternity-disability
Percent of Persons Taking More Than One Leave:
--
Reason for Second Longest Leave: Care for a newborn, newly adopted,
or newly placed foster child
Percent of Persons Taking More Than One Leave:
5.1%
Reason for Second Longest Leave: Care for ill child
Percent of
Persons Taking More Than One Leave: 20.1%
Reason for Second Longest
Leave: Care for ill spouse
Percent of Persons Taking More Than One Leave:
4.2%
Reason for Second Longest Leave: Care for ill parent
Percent of
Persons Taking More Than One Leave: 13.0%
-- Indicates less than 10
unweighted cases.
Note: Column percents may not total to 100% due to
rounding.
Source: 2000 Survey of Employees.
Table 2.7. Length of Longest Leave by Reason for Leave: 2000 Survey
Length of Longest Leave** : 1 - 3 days
Percent of
Leave-Takers for Each Reason - Own Health: 8.2%
Percent of Leave-Takers for
Each Reason - Maternity-Disability: --
Percent of Leave-Takers for Each
Reason - Care for Newborn, Newly Adopted or Foster Child: 10.0%
Percent of
Leave-Takers for Each Reason - Care for Ill Child: 26.0%
Percent of
Leave-Takers for Each Reason - Care for Ill Spouse: 24.0%
Percent of
Leave-Takers for Each Reason - Care for Ill Parent: 17.4%
Length of
Longest Leave** : 4 - 5 days
Percent of Leave-Takers for Each Reason - Own
Health: 17.1%
Percent of Leave-Takers for Each Reason -
Maternity-Disability: --
Percent of Leave-Takers for Each Reason - Care for
Newborn, Newly Adopted or Foster Child: 27.5%
Percent of Leave-Takers for
Each Reason - Care for Ill Child: 23.7%
Percent of Leave-Takers for Each
Reason - Care for Ill Spouse: 38.3%
Percent of Leave-Takers for Each Reason
- Care for Ill Parent: 32.2%
Length of Longest Leave** : 6 - 10 days
Percent of Leave-Takers for Each Reason - Own Health: 18.7%
Percent of
Leave-Takers for Each Reason - Maternity-Disability: --
Percent of
Leave-Takers for Each Reason - Care for Newborn, Newly Adopted or Foster Child:
17.6%
Percent of Leave-Takers for Each Reason - Care for Ill Child:
31.9%
Percent of Leave-Takers for Each Reason - Care for Ill Spouse:
19.9%
Percent of Leave-Takers for Each Reason - Care for Ill Parent:
30.9%
Length of Longest Leave** : 11 - 30 days
Percent of
Leave-Takers for Each Reason - Own Health: 25.1%
Percent of Leave-Takers for
Each Reason - Maternity-Disability: 18.1%
Percent of Leave-Takers for Each
Reason - Care for Newborn, Newly Adopted or Foster Child: 13.5%
Percent of
Leave-Takers for Each Reason - Care for Ill Child: 14.0%
Percent of
Leave-Takers for Each Reason - Care for Ill Spouse: --
Percent of
Leave-Takers for Each Reason - Care for Ill Parent: 13.1%
Length of
Longest Leave** : 31 - 60 days
Percent of Leave-Takers for Each Reason -
Own Health: 19.4%
Percent of Leave-Takers for Each Reason -
Maternity-Disability: 39.7%
Percent of Leave-Takers for Each Reason - Care
for Newborn, Newly Adopted or Foster Child: 21.7%
Percent of Leave-Takers
for Each Reason - Care for Ill Child: --
Percent of Leave-Takers for Each
Reason - Care for Ill Spouse: --
Percent of Leave-Takers for Each Reason -
Care for Ill Parent: --
Length of Longest Leave** : More than 60
days
Percent of Leave-Takers for Each Reason - Own Health: 11.4%
Percent
of Leave-Takers for Each Reason - Maternity-Disability: 28.7%
Percent of
Leave-Takers for Each Reason - Care for Newborn, Newly Adopted or Foster Child:
9.8%
Percent of Leave-Takers for Each Reason - Care for Ill Child:
--
Percent of Leave-Takers for Each Reason - Care for Ill Spouse:
--
Percent of Leave-Takers for Each Reason - Care for Ill Parent:
--
** Difference among reasons for leave is significant at p<.05.
-- Indicates less than 10 unweighted cases.
Note: Column percents may
not total to 100% due to rounding.
Source: 2000 Survey of Employees.
Table 2.8. Use of Intermittent Leave: 2000 Survey
Leave-Takers Who: Took intermittent leave at least once in
previous 18 months
Percent of Leave-Takers: 27.8%
Leave-Takers Who:
Did not take intermittent leave
Percent of Leave-Takers:
72.2%
Source: 2000 Survey of Employees.
Table 2.9. Amount of Leave that was Intermittent: 2000 Survey
Amount of Leave that was Intermittent: Less than
half
Percent of Leave-Takers Taking Intermittent Leave: 53.9%
Amount
of Leave that was Intermittent: About half
Percent of Leave-Takers Taking
Intermittent Leave: 19.6%
Amount of Leave that was Intermittent: More
than half
Percent of Leave-Takers Taking Intermittent Leave:
26.4%
Table 2.10. Intermittent Use of Longest Leave: 2000 Survey
Leave-Takers' Longest Leave Was: Intermittent
Percent of
Leave-Takers: 20.8%
Leave-Takers' Longest Leave Was: Not
intermittent
Percent of Leave-Takers: 79.2%
Source: 2000 Survey of
Employees.
Table 2.11. Use of Longest Intermittent Leave on a Routine or As-Needed Basis: 2000 Survey
Intermittent Leave was Taken as: Regular routine
Percent
of Those Whose (Longest) Leave was Intermittent: 13.4%
Intermittent
Leave was Taken as: As-needed
Percent of Those Whose (Longest) Leave was
Intermittent: 86.6%
Source: 2000 Survey of Employees.
Table 2.12. Intermittent Use of Longest Leave by Reason for Leave: 2000 Survey
Reason for Longest Leave**: Own health
Percent of
Leave-Takers Whose Leave was Intermittent: 35.1%
Percent of Leave-Takers
Whose Leave was Not Intermittent: 50.3%
Reason for Longest Leave**:
Maternity-disability
Percent of Leave-Takers Whose Leave was Intermittent:
4.9%
Percent of Leave-Takers Whose Leave was Not Intermittent:
8.6%
Reason for Longest Leave**: Care for a newborn, newly adopted, or
newly placed foster child
Percent of Leave-Takers Whose Leave was
Intermittent: 13.2%
Percent of Leave-Takers Whose Leave was Not
Intermittent: 19.1%
Reason for Longest Leave**: Care for ill
child
Percent of Leave-Takers Whose Leave was Intermittent: 19.1%
Percent
of Leave-Takers Whose Leave was Not Intermittent: 7.4%
Reason for
Longest Leave**: Care for ill spouse
Percent of Leave-Takers Whose Leave was
Intermittent: 8.9%
Percent of Leave-Takers Whose Leave was Not Intermittent:
5.1%
Reason for Longest Leave**: Care for ill parent
Percent of
Leave-Takers Whose Leave was Intermittent: 18.7%
Percent of Leave-Takers
Whose Leave was Not Intermittent: 9.6%
** Difference between
"intermittent" and "not intermittent" categories is significant at p<.05.
Note: Column percents may not total to 100% due to rounding.
Source:
2000 Survey of Employees.
Table 2.13. Intermittent Use of Longest Leave Within Reasons for Leave: 2000 Survey
Reason for Longest Leave**: Own health
Percent of
Leave-Takers Within Each Reason Whose Longest Leave Was: Intermittent:
15.0%
Percent of Leave-Takers Within Each Reason Whose Longest Leave Was:
Not Intermittent: 85.0%
Reason for Longest Leave**:
Maternity-disability
Percent of Leave-Takers Within Each Reason Whose
Longest Leave Was: Intermittent: 12.7%
Percent of Leave-Takers Within Each
Reason Whose Longest Leave Was: Not Intermittent: 87.3%
Reason for
Longest Leave**: Care for a newborn, newly adopted, or newly placed foster
child
Percent of Leave-Takers Within Each Reason Whose Longest Leave Was:
Intermittent: 14.9%
Percent of Leave-Takers Within Each Reason Whose Longest
Leave Was: Not Intermittent: 85.1%
Reason for Longest Leave**:
Percent of Leave-Takers Within Each Reason Whose Longest Leave Was:
Intermittent: 39.5%
Percent of Leave-Takers Within Each Reason Whose Longest
Leave Was: Not Intermittent: 60.5%
Reason for Longest Leave**: Care for
ill child
Percent of Leave-Takers Within Each Reason Whose Longest Leave
Was: Intermittent: 30.9%
Percent of Leave-Takers Within Each Reason Whose
Longest Leave Was: Not Intermittent: 69.1%
Reason for Longest Leave**:
Care for ill parent
Percent of Leave-Takers Within Each Reason Whose Longest
Leave Was: Intermittent: 33.1%
Percent of Leave-Takers Within Each Reason
Whose Longest Leave Was: Not Intermittent: 66.9%
** Difference between
reasons categories is significant at p<.05.
Source: 2000 Survey of
Employees.
Table 2.14. Employees Needing But Not Taking Leave: 1995 and 2000 Surveys
Number of employees needing but not taking leave (for a
covered reason) in the previous 18 months:
Persons Not Taking Leave 1995
Survey: 3,925,000
Persons Not Taking Leave 200 Survey:
3,520,000
Percent of employee population**:
Persons Not Taking Leave
1995 Survey: 3.1%
Persons Not Taking Leave 200 Survey: 2.4%
**
Difference between 1995 and 2000 significant at p<.05.
Source: 1995 and
2000 Survey of Employees.
Table 2.15. Number of Leaves Needed But Not Taken: 2000 Survey
1 leave: Percent of Leave-Needers 44.4%
2 leaves:
Percent of Leave-Needers 25.0%
3 - 4 leaves: Percent of Leave-Needers
18.9%
5 or more leaves Percent of Leave-Needers 11.8%
Note: Column
percents may not total to 100% due to rounding.
Source: 2000 Survey of
Employees.
Table 2.16. Reasons for Needing Leave: 1995 and 2000 Surveys
Reason for Needing Leave: Own health
Percent of
Leave-Needers 1995 Survey: 47.7%
Percent of Leave-Needers 2000 Survey:
48.1%
Reason for Needing Leave: Maternity-disability
Percent of
Leave-Needers 1995 Survey: --
Percent of Leave-Needers 2000 Survey:
--
Reason for Needing Leave: Care for a newborn, newly adopted, or newly
placed foster child
Percent of Leave-Needers 1995 Survey: 9.3%
Percent of
Leave-Needers 2000 Survey: 9.3%
Reason for Needing Leave: Care for ill
child
Percent of Leave-Needers 1995 Survey: 18.6%
Percent of
Leave-Needers 2000 Survey: 19.6%
Reason for Needing Leave: Care for ill
spouse
Percent of Leave-Needers 1995 Survey: 10.2%
Percent of
Leave-Needers 2000 Survey: 9.0%
Reason for Needing Leave: Care for ill
parent
Percent of Leave-Needers 1995 Survey: 20.2%
Percent of
Leave-Needers 2000 Survey: 22.6%
-- Indicates less than 10 unweighted
cases.
Note: Column percentages sum to more than 100% due to some persons
needing leave for more than one reason.
Source: 1995 and 2000 Survey of
Employees.
Table 2.17. Reasons for Not Taking Leave: 1995 and 2000 Surveys
Reason for Not Taking Leave: Thought job might be
lost
Percent of Leave-Needers 1995 Survey: 29.7%
Percent of Leave-Needers
2000 Survey: 31.9%
Reason for Not Taking Leave: Thought job advancement
might be hurt**
Percent of Leave-Needers 1995 Survey: 22.8%
Percent of
Leave-Needers 2000 Survey: 42.6%
Reason for Not Taking Leave: Did not
want to lose seniority**
Percent of Leave-Needers 1995 Survey:
15.1%
Percent of Leave-Needers 2000 Survey: 27.8%
Reason for Not
Taking Leave: Not eligible-worked part-time
Percent of Leave-Needers 1995
Survey: 14.3%
Percent of Leave-Needers 2000 Survey: 12.3%
Reason for
Not Taking Leave: Not eligible-had not worked long enough for employer
Percent of Leave-Needers 1995 Survey: N/A
Percent of Leave-Needers 2000
Survey: 18.4%
Reason for Not Taking Leave: Employer denied
request**
Percent of Leave-Needers 1995 Survey: 9.9%
Percent of
Leave-Needers 2000 Survey: 20.8%
Reason for Not Taking Leave: Could not
afford to take leave**
Percent of Leave-Needers 1995 Survey:
65.9%
Percent of Leave-Needers 2000 Survey: 77.6%
Reason for Not
Taking Leave: Wanted to save leave time
Percent of Leave-Needers 1995
Survey: 28.5%
Percent of Leave-Needers 2000 Survey: 34.3%
Reason for
Not Taking Leave: Work is too important**
Percent of Leave-Needers 1995
Survey: 40.8%
Percent of Leave-Needers 2000 Survey: 52.6%
Reason for
Not Taking Leave: Some other reason
Percent of Leave-Needers 1995 Survey:
N/A
Percent of Leave-Needers 2000 Survey: 13.2%
2) Reason not asked
about in 1995 survey.
** Difference between 1995 and 2000 is significant at
p<.05.
Note: Percentages sum to more than 100% due to some persons
reporting multiple reasons for not taking leave.
Source: 1995 and 2000
Survey of Employees.
Table 2.18. Perceived Impact of Pay on Leave-Needers: 2000 Survey
Perceived Impact of Pay: Would have taken leave if
some/additional pay had been received
Percent of Leave-Needers Who Could Not
Afford to Take Leave: 87.8%
Perceived Impact of Pay: Would not have
taken leave if some/additional pay had been received
Percent of
Leave-Needers Who Could Not Afford to Take Leave: 12.2%
Source: 2000
Survey of Employees.
Table 2.19. How Leave-Needers Took Care of Their Situation: 2000 Survey
Just lived with it/Suffered through it
Percent of
Leave-Needers: 44.1%
Got help from others (family, friends)
Percent
of Leave-Needers: 25.0%
Altered work (schedule, duties, etc.)
Percent
of Leave-Needers: 12.2%
Took some time off
Percent of Leave-Needers:
13.1%
Did something else
Percent of Leave-Needers: 5.7%
Note:
Column percents may not total to 100% due to rounding.
Source: 2000 Survey
of Employees.
