A Worker May Be Sick or Exposed to COVID-19 What are paid sick leave options for workers?
- What are COVID-19 symptoms and what do I need to do if an employee is sick or exposed?
- What are paid sick leave options for workers?
- Do I need to offer workers' compensation benefits?
- What is an outbreak and what do I need to report?
Paid Sick Leave (at least 5 days or 40 hours)
Under California's regular paid sick leave law: Employees working for you in California for at least 30 days in a year are probably covered, whether they are a full-time, part-time, or temporary employee.
California's regular paid sick leave law gives employees sick time that can be used to:
- Recover from physical/mental illness or injury;
- To seek medical diagnosis, treatment, or preventative care;
- To care for a family member who is ill or needs medical diagnosis, treatment, or preventative care.
- Self-isolate as a result of potential exposure to COVID-19.
Employees can earn one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked. An employer must allow an employee to take at least 40 hours or five days of paid sick leave per year, whichever is more.
If Employees Are Denied Paid Sick Leave
If employees are denied paid sick leave, they can report the violation to the Labor Commissioner's Office. Employers may be subject to fines and penalties if employees file a claim or if the Labor Commissioner opens an investigation to look into workers who were denied paid sick leave.
Supplemental Paid Sick for COVID-19 Leave Expired December 31, 2022
In 2022, there was additional paid time off available due to COVID-19. Employers with 26 or more employees had to provide 2022 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (SPSL). SPSL provided up to 80 hours of COVID-19 related paid leave from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. Up to 40 of those hours could be used for isolation and quarantine, receiving vaccines and caring for a child whose school or place of care was closed. The additional 40 hours were available only when an employee, or family member for whom the employee provides care, tested positive for COVID-19.
Read Frequently Asked Questions on SPSL.
Exclusion Pay due to COVID-19 Expired February 2023
Exclusion Pay requirements from the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards expired in February 2023. Non-Emergency COVID-19 Prevention Regulations that do not include Exclusion Pay requirements are in effect. Read more about the non-emergency regulations and the ETS.
More Resources
December 2023