The United States federal government requires unpaid leave for serious illnesses, but does not require that employees have access to paid sick leave to address their own short-term illnesses or the short-term illness of a family member. The United States is one of few high-income countries not to guarantee universal paid sick leave.

The share of private sector jobs with paid sick leave policies has increased from 63 to 77 percent over the period 2010 to 2023; mostly as a result of state-level requirements to provide sick leave. A number of states and localities do require some or all employers to provide paid sick leave to their workers. Some jurisdictions allow for "safe leave", the use of sick leave for health and safety reasons related to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and other forms of violence and harassment.

Availability

A 2009 analysis from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) found that around 39 percent of American workers in the private sector do not have paid sick leave.Bureau of Labor Statistics, Table 30. Leave benefits: Access, private industry workers, National Compensation Survey, March 2009. Around 79 percent of workers in low-wage industries do not have paid sick time.Bureau of Labor Statistics, Table 30. Most food service and hotel workers (78 percent) lack paid sick days.Vicky Lovell, Institute for Women's Policy Research, Women and Paid Sick Days: Crucial for Family Well-Being , 2007.

A 2008 survey reported that 77 percent of Americans believe that having paid sick days is "very important" for workers.Tom W. Smith, Paid Sick Days: A Basic Labor Standard for the 21st Century , National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, August 2008. Some workers report that they or a family member have been fired or suspended for missing work due to illness.Smith, Paid Sick Days.

A 2020 paper found that requiring paid sick leave in the US likely increased overall well-being. When paid sick leave is required by law, workers tended to take two more days off work each year.

Unpaid sick leave The US requires unpaid leave for serious illnesses through the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This law requires most medium-sized and larger employers to comply and, within those businesses, covers employees who have worked for their employer for at least 12 months prior to taking the leave.National Partnership for Women and Families, The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Frequently Asked Questions, 2009.

Paid sick leave , 21 states and Washington DC require paid sick leave, while 29 states do not. 18 states preempt local governments from requiring paid sick leave. Some localities require paid sick leave.

+States with paid sick leave lawsStateDate of taking effectLegalization methodConnecticutJanuary 1, 2012Public Act No. 11-52 signed into law by Governor Dannel Malloy on July 1, 2011.CaliforniaJanuary 1, 2015 / July 1, 2015Legislation signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in 2014.MassachusettsJuly 1, 2015Question 4 passed by voters in November 2014.OregonJanuary 1, 2016Legislation (SB 454) signed into law by Governor Kate Brown in 2015.VermontJanuary 1, 2017HB 187 signed into law by Governor Peter Shumlin on March 9, 2016.ArizonaJuly 1, 2017Proposition 206 (Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act) passed by voters in November 2016.WashingtonJanuary 1, 2018Initiative 1433 passed by voters in November 2016.Rhode IslandJuly 1, 2018Legislation signed into law by Governor Gina Raimondo in 2017.MarylandFebruary 11, 2018In January 2018, the State Legislature overrode a veto of Governor Larry Hogan.New JerseyOctober 29, 2018Legislation signed by Governor Phil Murphy on May 2, 2018 MichiganMarch 29, 2019In September 2018, the State Legislature approved a ballot initiative, effectively making it law.NevadaJanuary 1, 2020Legislation signed by Governor Steve Sisolak on June 12, 2019.MaineJanuary 1, 2021Legislation (LD 369) signed into law by Governor Janet Mills on May 28, 2019.New YorkJanuary 1, 2021Legislation signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo on April 3, 2020.ColoradoJanuary 1, 2021 / January 1, 2022Legislation signed into law by Governor Jared Polis on July 14, 2020.New MexicoJuly 1, 2022Legislation signed into law by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on April 8, 2021.IllinoisJanuary 1, 2024Legislation signed into law by Governor J. B. Pritzker on March 13, 2023.MinnesotaJanuary 1, 2024Legislation signed into law by Governor Tim Walz on May 24, 2023.AlaskaJuly 1, 2025Measure 1 passed by voters in November 2024.NebraskaOctober 1, 2025Initiative 436 passed by voters in November 2024.VirginiaJuly 1, 2027Legislation signed into law by Governor Abigail Spanberger on May 20, 2026.

Alabama Alabama does not require paid sick leave and preempts local governments from requiring it.

Alaska All employees earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Employees of companies with 15 or more employees can accrue up to 56 hours a year, while employees of smaller companies can only accrue 40 hours a year.

Arizona All full-time, part-time, and temporary workers earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Employees of companies with 15 or more employees can accrue up to 40 hours a year, while employees of smaller companies can only accrue 24 hours a year. Companies are only required to allow employees to use their time off after being employed for 90 days.

Arkansas Arkansas does not require paid sick leave and preempts local governments from requiring it.

California All employees are entitled to earn one hour of paid sick leave every 30 hours after working 30 days. Employees can earn up to 48 hours a year, but companies can limit the amount one can use to 40. Unused hours are carried over. Companies are only required to allow employees to use their time off after being employed for 90 days. San Francisco, Oakland, Long Beach, San Diego, Emeryville, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, and Berkeley have more expansive requirements.

Colorado All employees earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked and can accrue and use up to 48 a year, with unused hours being carried over. If a public health emergency is declared, full-time workers are allowed an additional 80 hours off, while part-time workers are allowed an additional number of days equal to their average days worked a week or schedules to work in 14 days.

Connecticut Companies with 50 or more employees are required to provide paid sick leave to hourly, service workers. Temporary or day workers are not included. Employees earn one hour off for every 40 hours worked and can use up to 40 hours a year, with unused hours carrying over.

Delaware Delaware does not require paid sick leave.

Florida Florida does not require paid sick leave and preempts local government from requiring it.

Georgia Georgia does not require paid sick leave and preempts local government from requiring it.

Hawaii Hawaii does not require paid sick leave.

Idaho Idaho does not require paid sick leave.

Illinois All employees are entitled to one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked and can accrue up to 40 hours per year. Leave can be used for any reason. In addition, Cook County and its county seat of Chicago have local paid sick leave laws, although some municipalities have opted out. In those two localities, anyone - except government employees and some construction workers - who works more than 80 hours within 120 days can earn one hour off for every 40 hours worked. The maximum time off is 40 hours a year.

Indiana Indiana does not require paid sick leave and preempts local government from requiring it.

Iowa Iowa does not require paid sick leave and preempts local government from requiring it.

Kansas Kansas does not require paid sick leave and preempts local government from requiring it.

Kentucky Kentucky does not require paid sick leave and preempts local government from requiring it.

Louisiana Louisiana does not require paid sick leave and preempts local government from requiring it.

Maine Companies with 10 or more employees are required to give employees one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked. Leave can be used for any purpose, but planned leave required 4 weeks notice. Only 40 hours can be used a year, with unused hours carrying over. Employers are only required to allow workers to take time off after being employed for 120 days.

Maryland Companies with 25 or more employees are required to give anyone who works over 12 hours a week paid sick and safe leave. Workers earn 1 hour of paid sick and safe leave every 30 hours and can use up to 40 hours a year. Unused time can be carried over, but employers can limit the number of accrued hours to 64. Local governments are preempted from enacting more expansive requirements as of January 1, 2017. Montgomery County's sick and safe leave law, enacted on October 1, 2016, grants up to 56 hours of paid sick leave to anyone who works more than 8 hours a week and for a company with more than 5 employees.

All employers are required by Maryland law to inform their workers in writing the amount of available earned sick and safe leave. In Montgomery County, this requirement may be satisfied by documenting available leave on pay stubs and/or through an online portal that workers can access.

Massachusetts Most employees who work for companies with more than 11 employees are entitled to 40 hours of paid sick leave after being employed for 90 days.

Michigan In 2015, Michigan preempted local governments from requiring paid sick leave, but in 2018, they passed a law requiring paid sick leave for companies with 50 or more employees. Workers earn one hour of sick leave for every 35 hours worked. Up to 40 hours can be earned, but it can only be used after being employed 90 days.

Minnesota

All employees are entitled to one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked and can accrue up to 48 hours per year. In Duluth, companies with at least 5 employees are required to give workers up to 40 hours of sick leave per year. In Minneapolis, employees who work more than 80 hours are guaranteed 48 hours of sick leave, if they work for a company with 6 or more employees. In St. Paul, employees who work more than 80 hours are entitled to up 48 hours a year.

Mississippi Mississippi does not require paid sick leave and preempts local government from requiring it.

Missouri Missouri does not require paid sick leave and preempts local government from requiring it.

Montana Montana does not require paid sick leave.

Nebraska Nebraska did not require paid sick leave until 2024, when voters approved a law to require businesses to provide paid sick days. This law was put into effect in October 2025.

As of 2026, companies with 11 or more employees are required to give their employees sick leave. Workers earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Employers with 20 or more employees are required to allow said employees to accrue up to 56 hours a year, while employers with 11 to 19 employees only have to allow 40 hours a year.

Nevada Companies with 50 or more employees are required to give full-time employees sick leave. Temporary or seasonal employees are not included. Workers earn 0.01923 hours of paid leave for every hour worked, which can be used after 90 days of employment. Unused hours carry over.

New Hampshire New Hampshire does not require paid sick leave.

New Jersey All companies are required to give up to 40 hours of paid sick leave per year for both full- and part-time employees, except per diem healthcare employees and unionized construction workers. Eligible employees earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked and can use it after 120 days after being hired. Unused time can be carried over. Local governments are preempted from creating their own requirements.

New Mexico