California Increases Number of Paid Sick Days

​California recently expanded the amount of paid sick leave guaranteed to workers.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 616, which guarantees employees five paid sick days per year, up from three days previously.

The law requires employers of all sizes to provide 40 hours of accrued sick leave or paid time off by the 200th calendar day of employment or each calendar year or in each 12-month period. It permits employers to limit carryover sick leave to 40 hours or five days per year. It will take effect Jan. 1, 2024.

Full-time, part-time and temporary workers are eligible for paid sick leave if they worked for the same employer for at least 30 days within a year in California and completed a 90-day employment period before taking any paid sick leave. An employee covered by a collective bargaining agreement is not covered by the law if the agreement provides paid sick days or paid time off.

Having more paid sick days could encourage employees to stay at home when they are sick, so they don’t spread germs to co-workers or customers. “Too many folks are still having to choose between skipping a day’s pay and taking care of themselves or their family members when they get sick,” Newsom said.

“Every single working person and especially working parents know that three sick days are not enough,” said David Huerta, president of the service employees union SEIU California in Sacramento, Calif. “No one wants workers to come to work sick, but that’s exactly what happens when workers face the…