For some workers, the decision to stay home when sneezing and coughing will no longer mean forgoing a day’s pay.
In Tuesday’s election, ballot measures passed in three red states — Alaska, Missouri and Nebraska — that would require employers to provide earned paid sick leave for employees, with certain exceptions.
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Caroline Donelan, partner at Blank Rome, said paid sick time laws are different across states and municipalities in ways such as accruals, carryover days and permitted uses of the paid time off, which can make it challenging for employers and employees.
While most policies can be used for an employee’s illness or an employee’s family member, how a family member is defined can differ by location and state, Donelan said. In some states, you can use it for purposes beyond sickness. In Colorado, for instance, workers could use their paid sick leave if a child’s school is closed due to inclement weather, she said.
Many paid sick leave laws also include “safe time” or “safe leave” provisions, according to HR and payroll firm Paycor. These provide paid sick leave benefits to workers impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking. Employees may be permitted to use their days for medical care, or to attend court proceedings, move, or go to counseling appointments, for example.
“It’s another area where employers are facing multiple local and state requirements. For better or for worse, it seems like the federal government is continuing to let this be a state issue,” Donelan said.
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This article, written by Cheryl Winokur Munk, was published in CNBC on November 8, 2024.
