What is federal paid sick leave?

Question

Accepted Answer

There is no general federal paid sick leave statute. The paid sick leave rights that apply to most Arizona workers come from Arizona state law — specifically, Arizona's earned paid sick time law — not from a federal statute.

Under Arizona law, employees accrue a minimum of one hour of earned paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, capped at 40 hours per year for employers with 15 or more employees and 24 hours per year for smaller employers, unless the employer chooses a higher limit . Accrual begins at the start of employment, and employees may use the time as it accrues, though employers may require new hires to wait until the ninetieth calendar day of employment before using it . Earned paid sick time may be used for the employee's own illness or medical care, care of a family member, certain public health emergencies, and absences related to domestic violence, sexual violence, abuse, or stalking . Employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees who request or use earned paid sick time, and violations can be enforced through administrative complaints or civil actions . Arizona's law sets minimum requirements and does not preempt other laws or employer policies that provide more generous sick time benefits .

If your question concerns a specific federal program — such as leave rules for federal employees or federal contractors — that is governed by federal law, which is outside the scope of the Arizona sources provided here; please consult a licensed attorney for guidance on those federal questions.