Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said on Monday that she has filed draft regulations to provide the framework for the Earned Sick Time law that voters approved in November and that takes effect on July 1.
The new law will give nearly 1 million Massachusetts employees access to sick leave, Healey said.
“Employees shouldn’t have to worry about whether they can afford to take a day off if they get sick or whether they might lose their job if their child needs to see a doctor,” Healey said. “These regulations lay out clearly the rights and responsibilities employers and employees have under the new law.”
About a third of all workers in the state don't receive earned sick time, with most of those workers employed at low-wage jobs. Over half of all workers in the service industry don't receive sick time. Healey said that currently, only Connecticut has earned sick time.
“The business community has been at the table throughout this process, and we look forward to their continued engagement and ongoing dialogue with workers and community leaders about how to implement a law that will make Massachusetts a leader in providing earned sick leave to all workers,” Healey said.
Under the new law, employers who have 11 or more workers will be required to provide employees with up to 40 hours per year of paid sick leave. Businesses that have less than 11 employees will be required to give their workers earned sick time, but will not have to pay them for it.