Accrual of Sick Leave

Employees will accrue sick leave at the rate of not less than one (1) hour per thirty (30) hours worked, starting on their first day of employment or on the effective date of this law (September 30, 2020), whichever is later.

Alternatively, employers may provide employees with their total amount of sick leave at the start of the calendar year. Employers who front load sick leave may not reduce the amount of an employee's sick leave based on actual hours worked by the employee during the calendar year.

Permissible Uses of Sick Leave

Starting January 1, 2021, employees may, upon oral or written request, use their accrued sick leave for the following reasons:

1. for a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition of such employee or such employee's family member, regardless of whether such illness, injury, or health condition has been diagnosed or requires medical care at the time that such employee requests such leave;
2.  for the diagnosis, care, or treatment of a mental or physical illness, injury or health condition of, or need for medical diagnosis of, or preventive care for, such employee or such employee's family member; or
3. for an absence from work due to any of the following reasons when the employee or employee's family member has been the victim of domestic violence, a family offense, sexual offense, stalking, or human trafficking:

• to obtain services from a domestic violence shelter, rape crisis center, or other services program;
• to participate in safety planning, temporarily or permanently relocate, or take other actions to increase the safety of the employee or employee's family members;
• to meet with an attorney or other social services provider to obtain information and advice on, and prepare for or participate in any criminal or civil proceeding;
• to file a complaint or domestic incident report with law enforcement;
• to meet with a district attorney's office;
• to enroll children in a new school; or
• to take any other actions necessary to ensure the health or safety of the employee or the employee's family member or to protect those who associate or work with the employee.

• "family member" is an employee's child, spouse, domestic partner, parent, sibling, grandchild or grandparent, and the child or parent of an employee's spouse or domestic partner;
• "parent" is an employee's biological, foster, step- or adoptive parent, or a legal guardian, or a person who stood in loco parentis when the employee was a minor child; and
• "child" is an employee's biological, adopted or foster child, a legal ward, or a child of an employee standing in loco parentis.