Employees typically receive some compensation for times when they are not working. This can take the form of sick leave, personal days or vacation. There is also paid leave for employees to recognize certain religious and national holidays. These benefits are offered commonly in both the private and public sectors, but the specifications are determined by employers, subject to collective bargaining when employees are unionized.
Whether an employee is offered such paid leave benefits is often highly contingent on whether he or she is a full- or part-time worker. As shown in Graphic 3, 87 percent of full-time employees nationwide (including both private sector and government workers) have access to paid vacation leave, while 88 percent are offered paid holiday leave. For part-time workers, though, these benefits are offered to only 34 percent and 38 percent of employees, respectively. Sick leave is available to 78 percent of full-time employees and only 26 percent of part-time employees.[52]
Graphic 3: Access to Paid Leave by Work Status, 2013
Work Status |
Vacation |
Holiday |
Sick Leave |
Full time |
87% |
88% |
78% |
Part time |
34% |
38% |
26% |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
State employees in Michigan receive 12 days of paid leave for holiday vacation on odd-numbered years and 13 on even-numbered years.[53] Some state government jobs need to be performed during holidays and employees receive extra pay for working on these days.[54]
A unique benefit is given to teachers, professors and other employees whose schedules are determined by an academic calendar. The breaks between the end and start of school years is not treated as paid leave by employers, but rather as a regular employment term. Most salaried school employees may receive paychecks as normal compensation during this time off from work.