By Melissa Stein, JD, Brightmine Legal Editor
Sick leave laws continue to expand at the state level, with many states requiring covered employers to provide paid sick leave. While state requirements vary, sick leave laws generally require employers to provide time off work when an employee cannot work because of their own illness or because they need to care for a sick family member. Many states require sick leave for additional qualifying reasons.
For multistate employers, keeping up with sick leave requirements can be complicated and time-consuming, particularly when employers have to consider other leave requirements that could apply.
The below chart provides an overview of key sick leave provisions: general applicability and whether leave must be paid. Note that the chart is specific to sick leave. Depending on an employee’s situation, other leave requirements may apply (e.g., family and medical leave, domestic violence leave, paid leave for any reason). For an overview of various leave requirements in each state, see Leave laws by state | 50-state chart.
Which states require sick leave?
The following states have current or enacted sick leave laws:
Map: State sick leave laws*
Table: State sick leave laws*
| State | Sick leave required | Applicability | Paid or unpaid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | N/A | N/A |
| Alaska | Yes | Applies to all employers. | Leave is paid. |
| Arizona | Yes | Applies to all employers. | Leave is paid. |
| Arkansas | No | N/A | N/A |
| California | Yes | Applies to all employers. | Leave is paid. |
| Colorado | Yes | Applies to all employers. | Leave is paid. |
| Connecticut | Yes | Applies to employers that employ 11 or more individuals in the state. Effective January 1, 2027, this law applies to employers that employ one or more individuals in the state. | Leave is paid. |
| Delaware | No | N/A | N/A |
| District of Columbia | Yes | Applies to all employers. | Leave is paid. |
| Florida | No | N/A | N/A |
| Georgia | No | N/A | N/A |
| Hawaii | No | N/A | N/A |
| Idaho | No | N/A | N/A |
| Illinois | No | N/A | N/A |
| Indiana | No | N/A | N/A |
| Iowa | No | N/A | N/A |
| Kansas | No | N/A | N/A |
| Kentucky | No | N/A | N/A |
| Louisiana | No | N/A | N/A |
| Maine | No | N/A | N/A |
| Maryland | Yes | Applies to all employers. | Leave is paid for employers with 15 or more employees. Leave is unpaid for employers with fewer than 15 employees. |
| Massachusetts | Yes | Applies to all employers. | Leave is paid for employers with 11 or more employees. Leave is unpaid for employers with fewer than 11 employees. |
| Michigan | Yes | Applies to all employers. | Leave is paid. |
| Minnesota | Yes | Applies to all employers. | Leave is paid. |
| Mississippi | No | N/A | N/A |
| Missouri | No | N/A | N/A |
| Montana | No | N/A | N/A |
| Nebraska | Yes | Applies to employers with 11 or more employees. | Leave is paid. |
| Nevada | No | N/A | N/A |
| New Hampshire | No | N/A | N/A |
| New Jersey | Yes | Applies to all employers. | Leave is paid. |
| New Mexico | Yes | Applies to all employers. | Leave is paid. |
| New York | Yes | Applies to all employers. | Leave is paid for employers with either four or fewer employees in any calendar year and a net income of more than $1 million, or five or more employees. Otherwise, leave is unpaid. |
| North Carolina | No | N/A | N/A |
| North Dakota | No | N/A | N/A |
| Ohio | No | N/A | N/A |
| Oklahoma | No | N/A | N/A |
| Oregon | Yes | Applies to all employers. | Leave is paid for employers with 10 or more employees and employers in Portland with six or more employees. Otherwise, leave is unpaid. |
| Pennsylvania | No | N/A | N/A |
| Rhode Island | Yes | Applies to all employers. | Leave is paid for employers with 18 or more employees. Leave is unpaid for employers with fewer than 18 employees. |
| South Carolina | No | N/A | N/A |
| South Dakota | No | N/A | N/A |
| Tennessee | No | N/A | N/A |
| Texas | No | N/A | N/A |
| Utah | No | N/A | N/A |
| Vermont | Yes | Applies to all employers. | Leave is paid. |
| Virginia | Yes | Applies to employers of home health workers. | Leave is paid. |
| Washington | Yes | Applies to all employers. | Leave is paid. |
| West Virginia | No | N/A | N/A |
| Wisconsin | No | N/A | N/A |
| Wyoming | No | N/A | N/A |
The Brightmine compliance solution
Complying with sick and other leave laws is fundamental to HR teams. And keeping up with the frequent changes, particularly when it comes to sick leave protections, can be overwhelming – especially if you have employees working in multiple states.
Brightmine can help. With our extensive library of state-by-state guidance, customizable legal update alerts and automated handbook management system, you can spend less time on compliance and more time maximizing business value. Click below and to get started today.
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About the author
Melissa Stein, JD
Legal Editor, Brightmine
Melissa Stein is a former practicing employment law attorney. As a legal editor at Brightmine, she covers various forms of leave, including paid sick leave and paid family and medical leave. Melissa also works with the Handbook Templates team to craft and update Brightmine handbook statements.
Melissa holds a Bachelor of Arts in global studies from Arizona State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School.
Before joining Brightmine, Melissa worked as an Equal Employment Opportunity attorney at the American Federation of Government Employees, where she represented union members alleging employment discrimination claims against federal agencies. She also conducted trainings on federal employment discrimination law. Previously, Melissa worked as an associate at a civil rights law firm in Washington, D.C., where she focused on litigation involving employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation.
Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn.
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