Working through a pandemic took its toll on many Americans — and a new study shows just how much of an economic hit the lowest-paid workers bore. In fact, as workers dealt with unpaid absences from work for being sick, or having to deal with childcare and other personal obligations, it may have cost them $28 billion. That's according to a paper from the Urban Institute and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The study finds that low-earning workers, workers of color, and women were some of the groups with the biggest spikes in unpaid absences. Although new coronavirus cases aren't as high as they previously were during the pandemic, the authors of the brief note why having paid sick leave available is still important as the pandemic continues. Read the full story at the link in our bio. Story by Juliana Kaplan and Madison Hoff.