An economics study released Monday offers an idea of what might happen if the bill passed. Democrats introduce a measure they hope will find bipartisan support, and a new study explores the economic effects of sick-leave mandates.The U.S.is one of the only rich countries not requiring employers to give their workers paid time off when they’re sick. It has become an urgent issue for more Americans because of the coronavirus outbreak. Citing the crisis, Democrats in Congress are trying to pass a new version of a sick leave bill that has been stalled in Congress since 2004 — and expand it to add 14 days of immediately accessible paid sick leave in the case of a public health emergency.