Do I get paid sick leave?

Written by NotALawyer Legal AI · Reviewed by External Legal AI · Published July 2, 2026

There's no general federal right to paid sick leave — the federal FMLA protects your job during longer unpaid leave, but it doesn't pay you. Whether you earn paid sick time depends on your state, and sometimes your city. The table on this page shows which states require it and how much you can earn.

State and local laws fill the federal gap

A growing list of states requires most employers to provide paid sick time, and some cities add their own rules on top. In states with no law, paid sick leave is whatever your employer's policy or contract says — no more.

Accrual usually tracks hours worked

The common model banks roughly 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 to 40 hours worked, with a yearly cap that often depends on employer size. Full-time, part-time, and temporary workers typically all accrue, and unused time often carries over subject to the cap.

Covered reasons are usually broad

Most laws cover your own illness or injury, caring for a sick family member, preventive care, public-health closures of a school or workplace, and "safe leave" tied to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

Notice can be required; doctor's notes are limited

Employers can generally require advance notice when an absence is foreseeable. But most laws limit documentation demands — a doctor's note typically can't be required for an absence of only a day or two.

Retaliation is illegal where these laws apply

Firing, disciplining, or docking a worker for using earned sick time violates the laws that grant it. Complaints go to the state labor department or enforcement agency, which can recover back pay and impose penalties.

Start a Chat Find an Employment Attorney

Sources & primary references

Family and Medical Leave Act — U.S. Department of Labor

Paid sick leave by stateCompare the sick-leave accrual rate in all 50 states.

This shows how fast you earn paid sick time and the yearly cap, in states that require employers to provide it. Each value is cited to the state statute or agency; a state with no sourced figure shows "Not yet sourced."

State	Sick-leave accrual rate	Source
Alabama	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Alaska	1 hr / 30 hrs worked	Alaska Dept. of Labor — Sick Leave FAQ
Arizona	1 hr / 30 hrs worked	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Arkansas	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
California	1 hr / 30 hrs worked	CA Dept. of Industrial Relations — Paid Sick Leave FAQ
Colorado	1 hr / 30 hrs worked	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Connecticut	1 hr / 30 hrs worked	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Delaware	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
District of Columbia	1 hr / 37 hrs (varies)	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Florida	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Georgia	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Hawaii	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Idaho	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Illinois	1 hr / 40 hrs worked	Illinois Dept. of Labor — Paid Leave for All Workers Act
Indiana	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Iowa	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Kansas	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Kentucky	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Louisiana	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Maine	1 hr / 40 hrs worked	Maine Dept. of Labor — Earned Paid Leave
Maryland	1 hr / 30 hrs worked	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Massachusetts	1 hr / 30 hrs worked	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Michigan	1 hr / 30 hrs worked	Michigan LEO — Earned Sick Time Act
Minnesota	1 hr / 30 hrs worked	Minnesota Dept. of Labor & Industry — Earned Sick and Safe Time
Mississippi	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Missouri	1 hr / 30 hrs worked	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Montana	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Nebraska	1 hr / 30 hrs worked	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Nevada	~0.019 hr per hr worked	Nevada Revised Statutes § 608.0197 (Justia)
New Hampshire	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
New Jersey	1 hr / 30 hrs worked	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
New Mexico	1 hr / 30 hrs worked	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
New York	1 hr / 30 hrs worked	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
North Carolina	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
North Dakota	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Ohio	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Oklahoma	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Oregon	1 hr / 30 hrs worked	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Pennsylvania	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Rhode Island	1 hr / 35 hrs worked	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
South Carolina	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
South Dakota	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Tennessee	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Texas	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Utah	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Vermont	1 hr / 52 hrs worked	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Virginia	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Washington	1 hr / 40 hrs worked	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
West Virginia	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Wisconsin	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State
Wyoming	No statewide law	GovDocs — Paid Sick Leave Laws by State

General information, not legal advice. Rules change and exceptions apply — confirm the current rule with the cited source for your state.

NotALawyer.com provides general legal information, not legal advice.