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Mandatory Paid Sick Time Spreading Across the Country

This spring Vermont joined four other states and the District of Columbia in mandating employers provide their employees paid sick time. Paid sick time is also guaranteed by 24 cities and one county in the US.

The United States is the only high-income country in the world without laws guaranteeing paid leave nationwide.

On the Federal level, New York Senator Kristen Gillibrand and Connecticut Representative Rosa DeLauro have introduced the FAMILY Act which would provide pay benefits equal to 66% of wages for up to 12 weeks of medical or family leave. This legislation has been endorsed by Bernie Sanders. Hillary Clinton has proposed a similar policy.

StateWhen effective?Who is Covered?How are Paid Sick Hours Accrued?Minimum Sick Time per Year?More Info
California2015Workers employed for more than 30 days per year1 per 30 hours worked24hrsCA Department of Industrial Relations
Connecticut2012Hourly wokrers in certain service occupations1 per 40 hours worked40hrsCT Department of Labor
Massachusetts2015Employees at firms with more than 11 employees1 per 30 hours worked40hrsMA Attorney General
Oregon2016Employees at firms with more than 10 employees1 per 30 hours worked40hrsOregon.gov
Vermont2017Workers who average 18 or more hours per week1 per 52 hours worked

2017: 24hrs

2018 - : 40hrs

National Law Review
Washington DC2008All employees1 per 37 - 87 hours worked (depending on firm size)3 - 7 days (depending on firms size)DC Department of Employment Services

 

Links:

Gov. Peter Shumlin Signs Paid Sick Days Bill into Law (Vermont.gov, March 9, 2016)

Current Paid Sick Day Laws (National Partnership for Women & Families, April 12, 2016)

Lots Of Other Countries Mandate Paid Leave. Why Not The U.S.? (NPR, July 15, 2015)

Senator Gillibrand Announces Legislation to Provide Every American Worker With Paid Leave (Gillibrand.Senate.gov, March 18, 2015)

Clinton Offers New Details About Paid Family Leave Plan (The Wall Street Journal, January 7, 2016)