Read all you need to know about the Massachusetts earned paid sick time at US Paywizard.org.
Tuesday November 4th 2014, Massachusetts voters approved a sick-leave ballot initiative to provide paid or unpaid sick time to most employees, starting July 1, 2015.
Paid sick leave, for whom and how much?
Under the measure employees - of both private and public employers, having 11 or more employees - will accrue one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, to be capped at 56 hours of leave per calendar year.
Employees - of both private and public employers, having 6-10 employees - will accrue one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, to be capped to 40 hours of leave per calendar year.
Employees are paid their usual hourly rate for sick time, but no less than the states minimum wage.
Unpaid sick leave, for whom and how much?
Small employers with 10 or fewer workers won't have to provide paid sick leave, but their employees can earn and use up to 40 hours of unpaid sick time.
Who is not entitled to sick leave?
Seasonal employers - open less than 16 weeks per year are not required to provide any job protected sick time.
What if my boss has an own sick leave policy?
Employers that have their own sick leave policies providing as much paid time off, usable for the same purposes and conditions, are not required to provide additional paid sick leave.
How to use sick time?
The earned sick time can be used when a worker is ill, injured or need to tend to a medical condition, of themselves, spouse, children or parent; to attend routine medical appointments of themselves or their child, spouse, parent; to address the effects of domestic violence on themselves or their dependent child.
Employers could require certification of the need for sick time if an employee used it for more than 24 consecutively hours.
Can I save unused sick time from year to year?
Unused earned sick time can be carried over to the next year, up to the maximum earned time for one year. Employers don't have to pay employees for unused sick time.
Can I lose my job, pay or promotion when I use my sick time?
The measure makes it illegal for employers to punish workers for exercising their lawful rights.
Read the whole bill S900/H.1739