Family, Medical & Sick Leave
Federal law gives some workers unpaid, job-protected leave. A growing number of states add paid sick days and paid family and medical leave.
- All workers
- State-specific
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- New York
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Texas
- Washington
- District of Columbia
Federal: the FMLA
- Up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for your own serious health condition, to care for a spouse, child or parent with a serious health condition, or for the birth, adoption or foster placement of a child. Up to 26 weeks to care for a seriously injured service member.
- You’re eligible if your employer has 50 or more employees within 75 miles, and you’ve worked there at least 12 months and 1,250 hours in the past year.
- Your health insurance continues during leave, and you return to the same or an equivalent job.
Many construction workers don’t meet the FMLA eligibility rules because of short-term projects or small employers. State laws often fill the gap.
Paid sick leave (state and local)
Many states and cities require employers to provide paid sick time. Workers typically earn about one hour for every 30 to 40 hours worked, up to a yearly cap. States with paid sick leave laws include California, Washington, Oregon, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota and others. Some states, including Texas and Florida, have laws that block cities from requiring it.
Paid family and medical leave (state programs)
A growing number of states run insurance programs that pay part of your wages during family or medical leave, including California, New York, New Jersey, Washington, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Oregon, Colorado, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C., with others starting soon.
Pregnancy and disability
- The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act requires employers with 15+ employees to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy and related conditions, such as lighter duty or more breaks.
- The ADA may require accommodations, including leave, for disabilities.
Standards & references
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