This bill, called the Healthy Families Act, requires covered employers to let employees earn paid sick time. Employees earn at least 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to 56 hours in a year unless the employer sets a higher limit. Paid sick time is paid at no less than the employee's regular rate, the federal minimum wage rate, or an applicable State or local minimum wage, whichever is greater. Employees begin earning paid sick time when hired and may use it after 60 calendar days of employment. Employers must allow carried-over leave from year to year but still may limit accrual to 56 hours per year. Paid sick time can be used for the employee's own illness or medical care, for caring for family members (as defined in the bill), for preventive care, and for needs related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Employers may require certification for absences longer than 3 consecutive workdays and may require certain documentation for leave related to domestic violence, but confidentiality rules apply. The Department of Labor enforces the Act for most employers, the bill allows employee lawsuits, sets statute of limitations rules, and directs annual data collection by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and a GAO study within 5 years. The Act takes effect 6 months after regulations are issued.
If you are an employee of a covered employer:
If you are an employer:
No publicly available information on the overall federal budget or employer cost estimates is included in the bill text. The bill authorizes the Secretary of Labor to conduct a public awareness campaign and authorizes appropriations of "such sums as may be necessary" for that campaign, but it does not provide specific dollar amounts or a cost estimate.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.