California Sick Leave Requirements (Updated 2024)
California's paid sick leave law, the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act, was recently expanded. As of January 1, 2024, employers must provide more paid sick leave to their employees.
The New Requirements
Under the new law (SB 616), employers must provide eligible employees with at least 5 days or 40 hours of paid sick leave per year, an increase from the previous requirement of 3 days or 24 hours.
Accrual vs. Front-Loading
Employers have two main options for providing sick leave:
- Accrual Method: Employees earn 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Employers can cap the total accrual at 80 hours (or 10 days) and limit annual use to 40 hours (or 5 days).
- Front-Loading Method: Employers provide the full 40 hours (or 5 days) at the beginning of the year. Under this method, no carryover to the next year is required.
Local Ordinances
It's important to note that many California cities (like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego) have their own local sick leave ordinances that may be more generous than state law. Employers must comply with whichever law provides the most benefit to the employee.
Pay Stub Requirements for Paid Sick Leave
California employers must show the amount of paid sick leave available on the itemized wage statement or on a separate writing provided the same day as the paycheck. For a complete checklist of all required pay stub elements, see our California Pay Stub Requirements guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
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