Boundary Control and Obtaining Care: Which Workplace Policies Are Associated with Obtaining Preventative Care During Work Hours?

CONTEXT: Because preventative care is often only available during standard business hours, workplace policies and work arrangements may play a central role in enabling people to obtain needed care. Yet it remains unclear which specific policies and practices are most effective in facilitating preventative care use, especially during the workday. This study draws on survey data from workers in Michigan and Arizona, where Michigan and Arizona workers have statutory access to paid sick leave, to examine how policies related to schedule control, work location, paid time off, and weekly work hours shape access to preventative care.

METHODS: Novel survey data were analyzed to assess associations between reported workplace policies and two outcomes: obtaining preventative care in the past year and obtaining that care during work hours. Logistic regression models estimated the relationship between policy access and care outcomes, adjusting for worker and job characteristics.

FINDINGS: Paid time off is associated with obtaining preventative care in general. However, the capacity to control one's schedule and to work remotely and/or hybrid is most strongly associated with obtaining preventative care during work hours.

CONCLUSIONS: Providing employees with control over working time and work location may substantially expand access to preventative care, with potential long-term benefits for health and medical spending.