Paid Sick Leave Laws Overview
Confirmed caps: California 40 hours, Colorado 48, New York 56 or 40, New Jersey 40, Washington 1 per 40, Illinois 40.
The rule
There is no federal paid sick leave requirement. The FLSA does not require sick pay. The states below were confirmed from an official page in this review. California: at least 40 hours or 5 days of use a year since January 1, 2024, accrued at 1 hour per 30 hours worked. Colorado: 1 hour per 30 hours worked, use capped at 48 hours a year, for every employer since January 1, 2022. New York: up to 56 paid hours at 100 or more employees, up to 40 paid hours for smaller employers, and up to 40 unpaid hours for employers with 4 or fewer employees and net income of $1 million or less. New Jersey: 1 hour per 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours a benefit year. Washington: at least 1 hour per 40 hours worked, for every employee. Illinois: up to 40 hours of paid leave for any reason under the Paid Leave for All Workers Act, except where Chicago or Cook County already required paid leave. Philadelphia: paid sick time at 10 or more employees, unpaid at nine or fewer, one hour per 40 hours worked, up to 40 hours in a calendar year. Pittsburgh: one hour per 30 hours worked in the city, capped at 48 hours a year for employers with fewer than 15 employees worldwide and 72 hours for 15 or more, effective January 1, 2026. Texas: no current state requirement that a private employer provide the leave.
What employers must do
Set the bank from the worksite state, not from a national default. Oregon and Massachusetts hour caps were not confirmed and are not in the list above.
Effective dates
The hour caps above are current. No January 1, 2027 change to those caps was on the pages reviewed. Minimum wages in several of these states do change on that date. Those rates are in the state articles.
What this means for BOSS partners and associates
BOSS is often the employer of record for the associate. Wage, break, leave, posting, and tax rules usually follow the state where the associate works. Tell BOSS that state before the assignment starts. Associates should record every hour worked on the timesheet. Do not promise a pay practice, a leave bank, or a posting the statute does not require.
Questions? Contact BOSS Support at support@backofficenow.com.
Sources
- DOL, FLSA does not require sick pay
- California DIR sick leave
- Colorado HFWA
- New York paid sick leave
- New Jersey earned sick leave
- Washington paid sick leave
- Illinois paid leave FAQ
- Texas Workforce Commission
- Philadelphia paid sick leave
- Pittsburgh Paid Sick Days Act notice
This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; check with BOSS Support or your own counsel for your situation.