School Is Out: Is the Doctor In? Gender Gaps in Holiday Work among Parent Physicians

Using linked insurance claims and birth records, we provide new evidence on the gender gap in parents' work among physicians. On typical weekdays, women are 10 percent less likely than men to bill any claims. On minor holidays (e.g. Columbus Day)--when many physicians' offices remain open, but schools close--this gender gap in work grows to 25 percent. However, on major holidays (e.g. Christmas)--when most offices close--men and women bill at equally low rates. These results suggest that a mismatch between workplace expectations and predictable disruptions in childcare may exacerbate the gender gap in work.