If you work in California, state law may guarantee you more paid sick leave than you realize. Since 2024, state law requires most employers to provide at least five days, or 40 hours, of paid sick leave a year (whichever is more for your schedule). If you work 10-hour shifts, “five days” means 50 hours. It’s the floor, not the ceiling, so some employers offer more.
Who’s covered? Just about everyone. If you work for the same employer for 30 or more days in a year in California, you qualify, whether you’re full-time, part-time, temporary, or seasonal.
How you get it. Employers generally satisfy the law either by allowing employees to accrue at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked (or another legally compliant accrual method) or by providing the full amount at the beginning of the year. Either way, you can generally start using it after 90 days of employment.
What you can use it for. Your own illness, a doctor’s visit, or preventive care, and the same for a family member. It also covers time off if you’re a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
The part employers don’t always mention: it’s illegal to punish you for using it. If you were written up, disciplined, demoted, or fired for requesting or using protected paid sick leave, that may constitute unlawful retaliation.
Not sure whether your employer is following the rules? That’s worth a quick conversation. At Grochow Law, we help California employees understand and protect their workplace rights.
