CLIENT ALERT – More and More Municipalities Are Legislating Paid Sick Leave

Philadelphia is poised to join a growing list of cities and states (including Portland, Oregon; Seattle; and San Francisco) which in the last few years have begun to require employers to provide paid sick time (“PST”) to their employees. These laws allow employees to receive limited paid time off to care for their own health or the health of a family member, and, in some cases, for leave directly related to medical, social or legal services needed when an employee or their loved one becomes a victim of stalking, domestic violence or sexual abuse. Employers with pre-exiting PTO policies must ensure these policies meet the minimum accrual requirements and that employees may use the leave for the purposes provided in the laws. Employers must comply with notice and recordkeeping requirements to avoid penalties and litigation.