Patchwork Paid Sick Leave Laws

One notable example is the recent paid sick leave mandates. To date, five states ' California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Vermont ' have adopted paid sick leave laws that affect a significant number, if not all, of the employers in those states. In addition, numerous cities ' including New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, DC, and most recently, Minneapolis ' have adopted paid sick leave ordinances. Adding to the list, many states and cities have recently introduced and/or are contemplating paid sick leave measures. These include but are not limited to ' Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Saint Paul.

The new laws can create administrative and employee relations headaches not only for employers in these jurisdictions, but for those who have locations in multiple jurisdictions or otherwise send their employees to work in these jurisdictions. To help employers understand what to expect and better understand the paid sick leave laws, this article outlines how the majority of the recent paid sick leave provisions operate, addresses common compliance difficulties, and provides insight and counsel on compliance and future planning for all employers.