American Time Use Survey
Leave Module
Questionnaire
August 2012

The ATUS Leave Module is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau. The ATUS is sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Table of Contents

Introduction ........................................................................................... 3
Section 1. Access to Paid Leave .....................................................................4
Section 2. Access to Unpaid Leave ................................................................ 8
Section 3. Leave taken in the last week .......................................................12
Section 4. Schedule Adjustments .................................................................17
Section 5. Non-use of Leave ..........................................................................24
Section 6. General Health .............................................................................25

Introduction

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau, the Leave Module was introduced into the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) in January 2011 and fielded through December 2011. The ATUS is a continuous survey that started in January 2003. The Leave Module includes questions about workers' access to paid and unpaid leave, reasons workers were able to take paid and/or unpaid leave, and whether and how workers could adjust their work schedules. The Leave Module also contains two questions on general health.
Respondents who were coded as employed wage and salary workers in the ATUS and completed a 24- hour diary were selected for the Leave Module. This includes respondents who:

Worked in the last seven days for pay or profit or
Had at least one full- or part-time job, including one in which they were temporarily absent.

The Leave Module questionnaire provides the data user with question universes, question wording, response choices, and skip patterns based on different responses. It also includes descriptions of each section of the module. Each question asked in the module has a variable name associated with it. Variable names associated with the questions should not be confused with the variable names provided in the ATUS data dictionaries and on the data files. After collection, many variables are processed further to improve data quality; the names of variables appearing in the data files contain information about how they were processed. For more information, please see the section titled ATUS Naming Conventions and Definitions in the ATUS Leave Module Data Dictionary (http://www.bls.gov/tus/dictionaries.htm).

Section 1: Access to Paid Leave

The Leave Module begins with an introduction explaining the content of the next set of questions and then proceeds to a screen asking about access to paid leave at one's job. Access to paid leave questions were designed to provide information on who had access to paid leave at their jobs, reasons for which workers were able to take paid leave from their jobs, and the types of paid leave plans workers had at their jobs.

PAID_Intro
Universe: [(FWK = 1) OR (BUS2 = 1) OR (ABSRSN = 4-12, 14, Don't Know, Refused)]
AND [IO1INC = 1, Don't Know, Refused, or empty)]

The next few questions are about paid and unpaid leave from a job.

Enter 1 to Continue [Go to PAID]

PAID
Universe: PAID_INTRO = 1

[Fill: Thinking about the job where you worked the most hours last week]Do you receive paid leave on your job?

1. Yes [Go to RSNPD_A]
2. No
Don't Know/ Refused [Go to UNPD_INTRO]

RSNPD_A
Universe: PAID =1

I'm going to read you a list of reasons why you might have to miss work. For each reason, please tell me if you are able to take paid leave in your [fill:current/main] job.
Own illness or medical care

1. Yes
2. No
Don't know/Refusal [Go to RSNPD_B]

RSNPD_B
Universe: Entry in RSNPD_A

Illness or medical care of another family member

1. Yes
2. No
Don't know/Refusal [Go to RSNPD_C]

RSNPD_C
Universe: Entry in RSNPD_B

Childcare, other than for illness

1. Yes
2. No
Don't know/Refusal [Go to RSNPD_D]

RSNPD_D
Universe: Entry in RSNPD_C

Eldercare, other than for illness

1. Yes
2. No
Don't know/Refusal [Go to RSNPD_E]

RSNPD_E
Universe: Entry in RSNPD_D

Vacation

1. Yes
2. No
Don't know/Refusal [Go to RSNPD_F]

RSNPD_F
Universe: Entry in RSNPD_E

Errands or personal reasons

1. Yes
2. No
Don't know/Refusal [Go to RSNPD_G]

RSNPD_G
Universe: Entry in RSNPD_F

Birth or adoption of a child

1. Yes
2. No
Don't know/Refusal [Go to PTO]

PTO
Universe: Entry in RSNPD_G

Does your employer offer a single type of paid leave that can be used for multiple purposes, such as sick leave, vacation, or personal leave- these plans are sometimes called consolidated leave plans or PTOs?

1. Yes [Go to SEPPD_A]
2. No
Don't Know/Refusal [Go to PDTYPE]

SEPPD
Universe: PTO=1

Does your employer also offer separate paid leave for? [Read all]
SEPPD_A Holidays?

1. Yes
2. No
Don't Know/Refusal [Go to SEPPD_B]

SEPPD_B
Universe: Entry in SEPPD_A

Maternity or paternity leave?

1. Yes
2. No
Don't Know/Refusal [Go to SEPPD_C]

SEPPD_C
Universe: Entry in SEPPD_B

Additional sick leave, not already included in your PTO?

1. Yes
2. No
Don't Know/Refusal [Go to UNPD_INTRO]

PDTYPE_A
Universe: PTO = 2, Don't Know, or Refused

Employers offer different types of paid leave plans. Does [fill: your employer/the employer where you worked the most hours last week] offer you separate ...
Paid sick leave(for yourself or to care for other family members)?

1. Yes
2. No
Don't Know/Refusal [Go to PDTYPE_B]

PDTYPE_B
Universe: Entry in PDTYPE_A

Paid vacation or annual leave?

1. Yes
2. No
Don't Know/Refusal [Go to PDTYPE_C]

PDTYPE_C
Universe: Entry in PDTYPE_B

Paid personal leave?

1. Yes
2. No
Don't Know/Refusal [Go to PDTYPE_D]

PDTYPE_D
Universe: Entry in PDTYPE_C

Paid holidays?

1. Yes
2. No
Don't Know/Refusal [Go to PDTYPE_E]

PDTYPE_E
Universe: Entry in PDTYPE_D

Paid maternity or paternity leave?

1. Yes
2. No
Don't Know/Refusal [Go to UNPD_INTRO]

Section 2: Access to Unpaid Leave
Questions about access to unpaid leave were designed to provide information on workers' understanding of their access to and use of unpaid leave and reasons for which workers were allowed to take unpaid leave.

UNPD_INTRO
Universe: (PAID = 2, Don't Know, or Refused) OR (Entry in SEPPD_c) OR (Entry in PDTYPE_e)

Now I'm going to ask you about unpaid leave.

Enter 1 to Continue [Go to UNPAID]

UNPAID
Universe: UNPD_Intro = 1

Question text:
[In addition to your paid leave/In your main job] are you allowed to take time off from work without pay?

1. Yes [Go to RSNUN_A]
2. No
Don't know/Refused [If PAID does not equal 1, go to ADJ_INTRO],
[Else if FABS =1, then go to LEAVE_INTRO2],
[Else go to LEAVE_INTRO1]

RSNUN_A
Universe: UNPAID = 1

Question text:
I'm going to read a list of reasons why you might have to miss work. Assuming that you have received your employer's approval, for each reason, please tell me whether or not you are able to take time off from work without pay.
Own illness or medical care

1. Yes
2. No
Don't know/Refusal [Go to RSNUN_B]

RSNUN_B
Universe: Entry in RSNUN_A

Question text:
Illness or medical care of another family member

1. Yes
2. No
Don't know/Refusal [Go to RSNUN_C]

RSNUN_C
Universe: Entry in RSNUN_B

Question text:
Childcare, other than for illness

1. Yes
2. No
Don't know/Refusal [Go to RSNUN_D]

RSNUN_D
Universe: Entry in RSNUN_C

Question text:
Eldercare, other than for illness

1. Yes
2. No
Don't know/Refusal [Go to RSNUN_E]

RSNUN_E
Universe: Entry in RSNUN_D

Question text:
Vacation

1. Yes
2. No
Don't know/Refusal [Go to RSNUN_F]

RSNUN_F
Universe: Entry in RSNUN_E

Question text:
Errands or personal reasons

1. Yes
2. No
Don't know/Refusal [Go to RSNUN_G]

RSNUN_G
Universe: Entry in RSNUN_F

Question text:
Birth or adoption of a child

1. Yes [Go to UNEVER]
2. No
Don't know/Refusal [If (RSNUN_A = 1) OR (RSNUN_B = 1) OR (RSNUN_C = 1) OR (RSNUN_D = 1) OR (RSNUN_E = 1) OR (RSNUN_F = 1), Go to UNEVER]
[Else if FABS = 1, go to LEAVE_Intro2]
[Else go to LEAVE_Intro1]

UNEVER
Universe: (RSNUN_A = 1) OR (RSNUN_B = 1) OR (RSNUN_C = 1) OR (RSNUN_D = 1) OR (RSNUN_E = 1) OR (RSNUN_F = 1) OR (RSNUN_G = 1)

Question text:
In your [fill: main/current] job, have you ever taken unpaid leave for [fill: this/these] reason(s)?

1. Yes [If more than one of RSNUN_A -- RSNUN_G = 1, go
RSNEVER]
[Else if FABS = 1, go to LEAVE_Intro2]
[Else go to LEAVE_Intro1]
2. No
Don't know/Refusal [If FABS = 1 then goto LEAVE_Intro2]
[Else go to LEAVE_Intro1]

RSNEVER
Universe: (UNEVER = 1 AND more than one of RSNUN_A -- RSNUN_G = 1)

Question text:
Which ones? That is, for what reasons have you taken unpaid leave in your [fill: current/main] job?
* Mark all that apply.
* Read highlighted options only.

1. Own illness or medical care
2. Illness or medical care of another family member
3. Childcare, other than for illness
4. Eldercare, other than for illness
5. Vacation
6. Errands or personal reasons
7. Birth or adoption of a child
Don't Know/Refusal [If FABS = 1 go to LEAVE_Intro2]
[Else go to LEAVE_Intro1]

Section 3: Leave taken in last week
The next set of questions collects information about the amount, type, and reasons for which workers took paid or unpaid leave in the week prior to the interview day.

LEAVE_Intro1
Universe: (FWK = 1 OR BUS2 = 1) AND (PAID = 1 OR UNPAID = 1)

Question text:
Now I want to ask you about your work time in the past week.

* Enter 1 to continue. [Go to LEAVE]

LEAVE
Universe: LEAVE_Intro1 = 1

Question text:
Did you take any paid or unpaid leave from your [fill: main] job over the past seven days, that is from last [fill: current day] through yesterday?

1. Yes [Go to LVHRS]
2. No
Don't know/Refusal [Go to ADJ_Intro]

LVHRS
Universe: LEAVE = 1

Question text:
In the past seven days, how many hours of leave did you take in total?

{1-168, Don't Know, Refusal} [If PAID = 1 go to PDWK]
[Else go to LVMAIN]

LEAVE_Intro2
Universe: (FABS=1 AND PAID_INTRO = 1) OR (FWK=3 AND RET1a=3 AND ABSRSN = 4-12,14, Don't Know, Refused)

Question text:
Earlier in the interview, you said that you did not work in the last seven days. How long have you been absent from your [fill: current/main] job?
* Enter the number of days, weeks, or months.

{1-99} [Go to Intro2_SP]
{Don't Know, Refusal} [If PAID = 1, go to PDWK]
[Else go to LVMAIN]

Intro2_SP
Universe: LEAVE_Intro2 = 1-99

Question text:
* Specify days, weeks, or months.

1. Days
2. Weeks
3. Months [If PAID = 1, go to PDWK]
[Else go to LVMAIN]

PDWK
Universe: (PAID = 1 and LEAVE = 1) OR (PAID = 1 and FABS = 1)

Question text:
Did you use paid leave for any of the time that you took off from work in the past seven days?
* If necessary, probe to determine which "yes" -- 1 or 2, above- is applicable.

1. Yes, paid for all
2. Yes, paid for some
3. No, not paid
Don't know/Refusal [Go to LVMAIN]

LVMAIN
Universe: LEAVE = 1 OR (FABS = 1 and PAID_INTRO = 1)

Question text:
Thinking about your longest period of leave in the last seven days, what was the main reason you had to take off from work?
* Read highlighted options.

1. Own illness or medical care [Go to LVPAIN]
2. Illness or medical care of another family member [Go to FAMILL]
3. Childcare, other than for illness
4. Eldercare, other than for illness
5. Vacation
6. Errands or personal reasons
7. Birth or adoption of a child
8. Other
Don't Know/Refusal
{3-8, Don't Know, Refusal} [If FABS = 1 and (PDWK = 3 or PAID ?1),
go to ADJ_Intro]
[Else if FWK = 1 and (PDWK = 3 or PAID does not equal 1), go to ADDLV]
[Else go to LVILL]

LVPAIN
Universe: LVMAIN = 1

Question text:
Was your illness or medical care work-related?

1. Yes
2. No
Don't Know/Refusal [If FABS = 1 and (PDWK = 3 or PAID does not equal 1), go to ADJ_Intro]
[Else if FWK = 1 and (PDWK = 3 or PAID does not equal 1), go to ADDLV]
[Else go to LVILL]

FAMILL
Universe: LVMAIN = 2

Question text:
Which member(s) of your family were ill?
* Mark all that apply

1. Spouse or partner
2. Child
3. Parent
4. Other relative
5. Other
Don't Know/Refusal [If FABS = 1 and (PDWK = 3 or PAID does not equal 1), go to ADJ_Intro]
[Else if FWK = 1 and (PDWK = 3 or PAID does not equal 1), go to ADDLV]
[Else go to LVILL]

LVILL
Universe: PDWK = 1 or 2

Question text:
What type(s) of leave did you use for this reason?
* Mark all that apply
* Read highlighted options.

1. Sick leave (for yourself or to care for other family members)
2. (Paid) Vacation or annual leave
3. (Paid) Personal leave
4. Paid holidays
5. (Paid) Maternity or paternity leave
6. PTO or consolidated leave
7. Unpaid leave
8. Other, specify [Go to LVILL_SP]
Don't Know/Refusal
{1-7, Don't Know, Refusal} [If FABS = 1, go to ADJ_intro]
[Else go to ADDLV]

LVILL_SP
Universe: LVILL = 8

Question text:
* Specify [If FABS = 1, go to ADJ_Intro]

[Else go to ADDLV]

ADDLV
Universe: LEAVE = 1 AND (FWK = 1 or BUS2 = 1)

Question text:
[fill: You said you were on leave for (answer from LVMAIN)]. In the past seven days, did you take additional leave for any other reason?

1. Yes
2. No
Don't know/Refusal [Go to LVYTD]

LVYTD
Universe: LEAVE = 1 AND (FWK = 1 or BUS2 =1)

Question text:
Did you take any paid or unpaid leave from your job yesterday?

1. Yes
2. No
Don't know/Refusal [If ADDLV = 1, go to YTDMAIN]
[Else goto ADJ_Intro]

YTDMAIN
Universe: (ADDLV = 1 and LVYTD = 1)

Question text:
What was the main reason you had to take off from work yesterday?
* Read highlighted options.

Section 4: Schedule adjustments
The next set of questions collects information about whether and how workers could adjust their work schedules instead of taking leave.

ADJ_Intro
Universe: PAID_INTRO = 1

Question text:
Now I'm going to ask you about schedule adjustments.
* Enter 1 to continue.

[If PAID = 2 and UNPAID = 2, go to ADJ_a]
[Else if PAID = 2 and UNPAID = 1, go to ADJ_b]
[Else if PAID = 1 and UNPAID = 2, go to ADJ_c]
[Else if PAID = 1 and UNPAID = 1, go to ADJ_d]

ADJ_a
Universe: (ADJ_Intro = 1) AND (PAID does not equal 1 and UNPAID does not equal 1)

Question text:
You said that you don't have leave available [in your main job], but can you vary your work schedule or location if you needed to take time off work?

3. Yes [Go to VARY_a]
4. No
Don't Know/ Refusal [If FABS = 1 then goto HEALTH]
[Else go to NOLV_Intro]

ADJ_b
Universe: (ADJ_Intro = 1) AND (PAID does not equal 1 and UNPAID = 1)

Question text:
Can you vary your work schedule or location instead of taking unpaid leave?

1. Yes [Go to VARY_a]
2. No
Don't Know/ Refusal [If FABS = 1 then goto HEALTH]
[Else go to NOLV_Intro]

ADJ_c
Universe: (ADJ_Intro = 1) AND (PAID = 1 and UNPAID does not equal 1)

Question text:
Can you vary your work schedule or location instead of taking paid leave?

3. Yes [Go to VARY_a]
4. No
Don't Know/Refusal [If FABS = 1 then goto HEALTH]
[Else go to NOLV_Intro]

ADJ_d
Universe: (ADJ_Intro = 1) AND (PAID = 1 and UNPAID = 1)

Question text:
Can you vary your work schedule or location instead of taking leave?

1. Yes [Go to VARY_a]
2. No
Don't Know/ Refusal [If FABS = 1 then goto HEALTH]
[Else go to NOLV_Intro]

VARY_a
Universe: (ADJ_a = 1) OR (ADJ_b = 1) OR (ADJ_c = 1) OR (ADJ_d = 1)

Question text:
How can you vary your work schedule or location? Can you change:
The days that you work?

1. Yes
2. No
Don't Know/Refusal
{1, 2, Don't Know, Refusal} [Go to VARY_b]

VARY_b
Universe: VARY_a = 1, 2, Don't Know, or Refused

Question text:
How can you vary your work schedule or location? Can you change:
The hours that you work?

1. Yes
2. No
Don't Know/Refusal
{1, 2, Don't Know, Refusal} [Go to VARY_c]

VARY_c
Universe: VARY_b = 1, 2, Don't Know, or Refused

Question text:
The location where you work?

1. Yes
2. No
Don't Know/Refusal
{1, 2, Don't Know, Refusal} [If FABS = 1 then go to HEALTH]
[Else if PAID = 2 and UNPAID = 2 go to ADJWK_a]
[Else if LEAVE = 1 go to ADJWK_b]
[Else go to NOLV_Intro]

ADJWK_a
Universe: (VARY_c = 1, 2, Don't Know, or Refused) AND (FABS does not equal 1) AND (PAID does not equal 1 and UNPAID does not equal 1)

Question text:
In the last seven days -- that is from [current day] through yesterday -- did you change your work schedule or location because you needed to take time off work?

1. Yes [Go to VARYWK]
2. No
Don't Know/Refusal [Go to NOLV_Intro]

ADJWK_b
Universe: (VARY_c = 1, 2, Don't Know, or Refusal) AND (FABS does not equal 1) AND (LEAVE = 1) AND (PAID = 1 or UNPAID = 1)

Question text:
In the last seven days -- that is from [fill = DAY] through yesterday -- did you change your work schedule or location rather than use additional leave?

1. Yes [Go to NOADD_a]
2. No
Don't Know/Refusal [Go to NOLV_Intro]

ADJWK_c
Universe: (VARY_c = 1, 2, Don't Know, or Refused) AND (FABS does not equal 1) AND (LEAVE = 2) AND (PAID = 1 or UNPAID = 1)

Question text:
In the last seven days -- that is from [fill = DAY] through yesterday -- did you change your work schedule or location rather than use additional leave?

1. Yes [Go to NOADD_b]
2. No
Don't Know/Refusal [Go to NOLV_Intro]

NOADD_a
Universe: ADJWK_b = 1

Question text:
Why did you decide not to take additional leave?
*Mark all that apply
*Read highlighted options.

1. Too much work
2. Wanted to save leave
3. Leave was denied
4. Did not have enough leave
5. Fear of job loss or other negative employment-related consequence
6. Could not afford the loss in income
7. Other
Don't Know/Refusal [Go to VARYWK]

NOADD_b
Universe: ADJWK_c = 1

Question text:
Why did you decide not to take leave instead?
*Mark all that apply
*Read highlighted options.

VARYWK
Universe: [(ADJWK_a = 1) OR (ADJWK_b = 1) OR (ADJWK_c = 1)]

Question text:
In what way did you change your schedule in the last seven days?
*Mark all that apply.
*Read highlighted options.

1. Worked different hours than usual, but the same total
2. Worked fewer hours than usual
3. Worked more hours than usual
4. Worked different days than usual, but same total
5. Worked fewer days than usual
6. Worked more days than usual
7. Worked at a different location than usual
8. Other
Don't Know/Refusal [Go to RSNVARY]

RSNVARY
Universe: VARYWK = 1-8, Don't Know, Refused

Question text:
Why did you need to change your work schedule or location [fill: instead of taking leave]?
*Mark all that apply.
*Read all.

1. Own illness or medical care [Go to LVPAIN2]
2. Illness or medical care of another family member
3. Childcare, other than for illness
4. Eldercare, other than for illness
5. Vacation
6. Errands or personal reasons
7. Birth or adoption of a child
Don't Know/Refusal
{2-7, Don't Know, Refusal} [Go to NOLV_Intro]

LVPAIN2
Universe: RNSVARY = 1

Question text:
Was your illness or medical care work-related?

1. Yes
2. No
Don't Know/Refusal [Go to NOLV_Intro]

Section 5: Non-use of Leave
The next set of questions collects information about times when workers needed to take leave from work but could not, the reason(s) for which they needed to take leave but did not, and the reason(s) why they did not take leave.

NOLV_Intro
Universe: FABS does not equal 1 AND PAID_INTRO = 1

Question text:
The next few questions are about times when you may have needed to take off from work but could not.

* Enter 1 to continue. [Go to NOLV]

NOLV
Universe: NOLV_Intro = 1

Question text:
During the past seven days, that is from last [fill = CURRENT DAY] through yesterday, were there situations in which you needed to take off from work but did not?

1. Yes [Go to NEEDLV]
2. No
Don't Know/Refusal [Go to HEALTH]

NEEDLV
Universe: NOLV = 1

Question text:
Why did you need to take off work?
*Mark all that apply.
*Read highlighted options.

1. Own illness or medical care
2. Illness or medical care of another family member
3. Childcare, other than for illness
4. Eldercare, other than for illness
5. Vacation
6. Errands or personal reasons
7. Birth or adoption of a child
8. Other
Don't Know/Refusal [If (PAID = 2 and UNPAID = 2), go to HEALTH]
[Else go to RSNNO]

RSNNO
Universe: (NOLV = 1) AND (PAID = 1 or UNPAID = 1)

Question text:
Why did you decide not to take leave?
*Mark all that apply.
*Read highlighted options.

Section 6: General Health
The last section collects information about workers' general health.

HEALTH
Universe: PAID_INTRO = 1

Question text:
Finally, I have a couple of questions about your health. Would you say your health in general is excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor?

1. Excellent
2. Very good
3. Good
4. Fair
5. Poor
Don't Know/Refusal [Go to PAIN]

PAIN
Universe: Entry in HEALTH
Question text:

Please think about how you felt physically over the past 7 days. DURING THE PAST 7 DAYS, ON AVERAGE, how much pain did you feel, if any? Please answer on a scale from 0 to 10 where 0 is no pain at all and 10 is pain as bad as it can be.

{0-10, Don't Know, Refusal} [Go to END]

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