Paid Sick Leave in Pennsylvania 2023
Pennsylvania saw its Senate almost pass a bill regarding paid sick leave a few years back but there have been no developments in the progress of the bill through the House since then.
Hence, the Pennsylvania sick leave bill is only a preemptive measure as of now and there is no saying when and if the bill may pass and become part of the state’s legislature.
There has been conflicting regarding whether or not it is right for the state government to interfere in these employment matters and if it is their responsibility to ensure homogeneity across the employment board when it comes to leaving policies.
Individual cities in the state, such as Pittsburgh and Philadelphia have implemented some form of sick leave laws as explained below:
How long is Paid Sick Leave in Pennsylvania Available?
According to the Philadelphia paid sick leave laws, employees get one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours they work. Employees can get a maximum of 40 hours of paid sick leave in a year which can be accrued over the calendar year. The employee has to spend a waiting period of 90 days after their employment before they can begin to use their accrued paid sick leave hours.
According to the Pittsburgh Paid Sick Leave Ordinance, employees can get up to 24 hours of paid sick leave if the business employs 15 or less employees and up to 55 days of paid sick leave per year if it employs 16 or more employees.
The accrual rate would be an hour of paid sick leave for every 35 hours worked. The cap for maximum paid sick leave hours is 40 hours per year. State employees get up to 13 days of sick leave per year.
Where some officers get paid time off, others may get personal days. In the first calendar year of their employment, the officer will get one personal day, the year after, they get 2 personal days, and for every year that comes after that, the officer gets four personal days.
Eligibility of Paid Sick Leave in Pennsylvania?
According to the Philadelphia paid sick leave laws, employers with 10 or more employees as well as large chains and organizations operating within the city limits are obliged to provide paid sick leave to their employees.
Employees with 9 or less employees are obliged to provide unpaid sick leave. Employees working in Philadelphia who work, on average, at least 40 hours a year are covered by this bill.
How to Apply for Paid Sick Leave in Pennsylvania?
The employee must notify the employer of their intention to take their paid sick leave as early as possible before going on the leave and becoming absent.
=> You may like to read: Paid Maternity Leave Pennsylvania 2018
Any Specific rule apply for Paid Sick Leave in Pennsylvania
The Philadelphia sick leave laws do not cover independent contractors, adjunct professors, interns, state employees, federal employees, and seasonal workers. Employees hired for a work period of less than 6 months as well as employees that are bound by bargaining agreements are also not eligible for paid sick leave.
In the case that an employer is unwilling to give paid sick leave to an employee for no reason whatsoever, the latter can file a complaint to the City of Philadelphia’s Sick Leave Agency.
