LOCALIZE IT: More states are adopting paid sick leave laws, but the benefits vary
By DAVID A. LIEB
Associated Press
EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS:
More than one-third of U.S. states now have laws requiring some employers to provide paid sick leave to their employees. But those laws vary significantly.
In some states, employees of small businesses aren’t entitled to paid sick time. Some new employees must work for several months before they are eligible to take a sick day with. In some states where voters initiated paid sick leave laws, some lawmakers are trying to pare back the benefits because of concerns about costs to employers.
In some states where voters initiated paid sick leave laws, some lawmakers are trying to pare back the benefits because of concerns about costs to employers.
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READ AP’S LATEST COVERAGE:
Voters resoundingly backed paid sick leave. Now lawmakers in 3 states want to roll back the benefits
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WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT PAID TIME OFF
A federal law enacted more than three decades ago guarantees many workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid time off to recover from major illness or childbirth or to take care of sick family members.
There is no federal mandate for employers to provide paid sick leave. But many employers voluntarily offer paid sick leave as a benefit for their workers.
Last year, 79% of private sector employees had access to paid sick leave, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. But part-time workers were significantly less likely than full-time workers to receive paid sick leave. And just 58% of employees in the bottom quarter of income earners received paid sick leave, compared to 94% of those in the top quartile.
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FIND YOUR STATE: PAID SICK LEAVE
Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have laws requiring certain employers to provide paid sick leave. That includes Missouri, Alaska and Nebraska, where voter-approved laws that kick in May 1, July 1 and Oct. 1, respectively. Three additional states — Illinois, Maine and Nevada — require employers to provide paid time off for any reason, without specifying whether it’s for health issues.
Here are details from the U.S. Department of Labor about paid sick leave laws in each jurisdiction, including when they first took effect, how many employees a business must have for the requirement to apply, how long new employees can be required to work before they can use the benefits, and how many paid sick days per year workers can take.
ALASKA
Year: 2025
Business eligibility: one employee
Waiting period to use: as accrued
Annual use: 56 hours for employers of at least 15 workers; 40 hours for smaller employers
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ARIZONA
Year: 2017
Business eligibility: one employee
Waiting period to use: 90 days
Annual use: 40 hours for employers of at least 15 workers; 24 hours for smaller employers
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CALIFORNIA
Year: 2014
Business eligibility: one employee
Waiting period to use: 90 days
Annual use: 40 hours
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COLORADO
Year: 2021
Business eligibility: 16 employees
Waiting period to use: as accrued
Annual use: 48 hours
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CONNECTICUT
Year: 2012
Business eligibility: 25 employees
Waiting period to use: 120 days
Annual use: 40 hours
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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Year: 2014
Business eligibility: one employee
Waiting period to use: 90 days
Annual use: 56 hours for employers of at least 100 workers; 40 hours for employers of 25-99 workers; 24 hours for smaller employers
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ILLINOIS
Year: 2024
Business eligibility: one employee
Waiting period to use: 90 days
Annual use: 40 hours
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MAINE
Year: 2021
Business eligibility: 11 employees
Waiting period to use: 120 days
Annual use: 40 hours
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MARYLAND
Year: 2018
Business eligibility: 15 employees
Waiting period to use: 106 days
Annual use: 64 hours
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MASSACHUSETTS
Year: 2015
Business eligibility: 11 employees
Waiting period to use: 90 days
Annual use: 40 hours
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MICHIGAN
Year: 2019
Business eligibility: one employee
Waiting period to use: 120 days
Annual use: 72 hours for employers of at least 11 workers; 40 hours for smaller employers
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MINNESOTA
Year: 2024
Business eligibility: one employee
Waiting period to use: as accrued
Annual use: 48 hours
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MISSOURI
Year: 2025
Business eligibility: one employee
Waiting period to use: as accrued
Annual use: 56 hours for employers of at least 15 workers; 40 hours for smaller employers
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NEBRASKA
Year: 2025
Business eligibility: one employee
Waiting period to use: as accrued
Annual use: 56 hours for employers of at least 20 workers; 40 hours for smaller employers
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NEVADA:
Year: 2020
Business eligibility: 50 employees
Waiting period to use: 90 days
Annual use: 40 hours
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NEW JERSEY
Year: 2018
Business eligibility: one employee
Waiting period to use: 120 days
Annual use: 40 hours
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NEW MEXICO
Year: 2022
Business eligibility: one employee
Waiting period to use: as accrued
Annual use: 64 hours
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NEW YORK
Year: 2021
Business eligibility: five employees
Waiting period to use: as accrued
Annual use: 56 hours for employers of at least 100 workers; 40 hours for employers of 5-99 workers
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OREGON
Year: 2016
Business eligibility: 10 employees
Waiting period to use: 91 days
Annual use: 40 hours
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RHODE ISLAND
Year: 2018
Business eligibility: 18 employees
Waiting period to use: 90 days
Annual use: 40 hours
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VERMONT
Year: 2017
Business eligibility: one employee
Waiting period to use: 365 days
Annual use: 40 hours
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WASHINGTON
Year: 2018
Business eligibility: one employee
Waiting period to use: 90 days
Annual use: no limit
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CONSIDER THESE REPORTING THREADS
— If your state has a paid sick leave law, how has it affected small businesses? Talk to the owners of small businesses. Do many of their employees take the maximum number of paid sick days annually? Has it increased their costs? Has it increased employee productivity, health and morale?
— If your state has a paid sick leave law, have lawmakers made or proposed changes since it initially was enacted? If so, why? And what were those changes? Talk to state lawmakers or advocacy groups involved in the issue.
— If your state does not have a paid sick leave law, why not? Have bills been proposed in the legislature but failed? Are there workers’ rights groups, citizen activists or labor unions pushing for a paid sick leave law?
— What do local experts think about laws requiring employers to provide paid sick leave? Talk to community health care providers, local chamber of commerce leaders or labor law professors at a college or university.
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READ ADDITIONAL AP COVERAGE
More states requiring paid medical or sick leave
Some voters are pushing back on lawmakers’ efforts to overturn citizen ballot initiatives
Michigan Gov. Whitmer agrees to limit wages for tipped workers amid minimum wage hike
Missouri companies sue to stop a law that raises minimum wage and requires paid sick leave
Fast food is a staple of American culture, but some of its workers struggle to survive
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Localize It is a reporting resource produced by The Associated Press for its customers’ use. Questions can be directed to Katie Oyan at koyan@ap.org.
