Celebrate New Paid Sick Leave Law For Massachusetts Workers

Starting July 1, many workers in Massachusetts are entitled to receive and use paid leave for personal or family sickness. Employees covered by the law earn 1 hour of sick leave for every 30 hours of work, up to 40 hours per year. Employees then can use sick leave, at least one hour at a time, to care for themselves or an immediate family member, to attend a medical appointment or to address consequences of domestic violence.

The law also prohibits employers from retaliating employees for exercising their right to accrue and use sick leave. To ensure your rights are protected, contact Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey's Fair Labor Division, at 617-727-3465 or EarnedSickTime@state.ma.us.

Paid sick leave is a basic benefit of most collective bargaining agreements between employees and unions. This new law provides a minimum amount of paid sick leave benefits that must be provided. The law permits unions to negotiate paid leave beyond 40 hours a week.