Are You Granting Your Employees Sick Leave

Sick leave is fast becoming a must do for small businesses.  Granting sick leave to employees has long been the prevue of employers.  However, a movement to make this a mandatory benefit has been gaining steam. 

Beginning in 2006 cities and states began the process of legislating this benefit to make it mandatory for employers to grant their employees sick leave.

Starting in 2006 the city of San Francisco, CA was first to pass such laws, followed by Washington, D.C. and Milwaukee, WI in 2008.  Today there are 38 cities and/or states that have sick leave laws in place and others are under consideration.

These sick leave laws calls for employers to grant employees one hour for ever 30-40 hours worked.  Sick leave can be paid or unpaid.  Depending on the location unused sick leave may or may not be carried over to the next year.

Employees are allowed to use their sick leave for a range of issues beyond actual illness such as routine doctor's visits or even seeking legal or other help to deal with sexual abuse, domestic violence or stalkers.

These laws also mandate penalties for employers who deny their employees sick leave in violation of the law and also punishes them for retaliating against employees for taking sick leave.

In 2017 Vermont, Chicago, IL, Santa Monica, CA, Spokane, WA, and San Francisco, CA all have sick leave laws that become effective.

Individual cities and states laws on sick leave can be found here:  SICK LEAVE.

By Bill Williams