How to Comply With Paid Sick Leave Laws

Author: Brightmine Editorial Team

Although paid sick leave is not generally required under federal law, it may be required under state or local law. In the absence of federal law, an increasing number of states and localities have chosen to adopt a paid sick leave law. When an employer operates or has employees in a jurisdiction that requires paid sick leave, it needs to carefully check the law's requirements.

For employers that operate in multiple locations that have paid sick leave laws, this can be a daunting task, as each law has its own standards regarding which employees are covered, which employers must comply, how employers must comply and more. While many of the paid sick leave laws have common requirements, they all have unique provisions. An employer must figure out if and how the laws interact with each other (and in some cases, other laws) and adjust business practices accordingly. An employer must also keep abreast of amendments to the laws and relevant government regulations.

Note: This How To does not address Executive Order 13706, which requires covered federal contractors to provide employees with up to seven days of paid sick leave per year.