During the pandemic, we went through so many changes. In the past, granting paid sick leave was at the employer’s discretion in the private sector. While employees are covered for long-term leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), but, there’s nothing in writing that requires a private employer to pay for short-term illness. In the last year there have been a growing movement of laws being created at state and local levels designed to protect employees. 

Why are states mandating sick leave?

During COVID employees had the dilemma of choosing between going to work sick and infecting their co-workers, or calling in sick and potentially losing pay and, in the worst-case scenario, even their jobs.