Paid Sick Leave - Is it required by law?

There are no federal laws that require employers to offer sick leave, but Several cities have now adopted laws that require employers to offer paid sick leave to their employees. Milwaukee, WI has recently joined San Francisco, CA and Washington, D.C. in passing law that governs paid sick leave.

Specifically, in Milwaukee, employers with ten or more employees must offer up to nine paid sick leave days per year, which are accrued by employees at a rate of one hour sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Employers with less than ten employees are only required to offer up to five paid sick leave days per year.

JoCasta Zamarripa, a leader for the nonprofit group called "9to5, National Association of Working Women," advocated for the passing of the Milwaukee Referendum. Zamarripa believes that business owners' worries about additional expenses are unfounded and that companies would "save in the long run with increased productivity and lower turnover." Yet many San Francisco business owners have cut back on vacation time and other employee benefits to offset the costs of their own mandatory requirement to offer paid sick leave.

Although U.S. Federal law does not require employers to offer sick leave, many employers may still be subject to providing leave benefits under The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This Act does not require employers to offer traditional sick leave pay, but may require employers to offer of up 12 weeks of leave for an illness, treatment for an illness, or to care for family members.