How to take paid time off work for COVID-19 related reasons in California
On March 19, 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a new COVID-19 paid sick leave policy for California employees. In this article, we break down everything you need to know!
Who is eligible?
California employees who work at a business with 25 or more employees who need to use paid sick leave for COVID-19 related reasons are eligible to use this leave.
I don’t qualify for this. What do I do?
Use this tool developed by the North Bay Labor Council to see if you might be covered under a local ordinance.
The below cities and counties have passed local emergency paid sick leave laws. If you work in one of the following areas, you might qualify for additional protections.
Long Beach
Los Angeles (county)
Oakland
Marin County
Sacramento (city)
Sacramento (county)
San Diego (city)
San Francisco (city)
San Jose (city)
San Mateo County
Santa Rosa
Sonoma County
What are COVID-19 related reasons?
Qualifying reasons to use this paid sick leave are:
Caring for Yourself:
you are subject to a quarantine or isolation period related to COVID-19
you have been advised by a healthcare provider to quarantine due to COVID-19
you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, and you’re seeking a medical diagnosis
Caring for a Family Member:
you are caring for a family member who is either subject to a quarantine or isolation period related to COVID-19 or has been advised by a healthcare provider to quarantine due to COVID-19
you are caring for a child whose school or place of care is closed or unavailable due to COVID-19 on the premises.
Vaccine-Related:
you are attending a vaccine appointment or cannot work or telework due to vaccine-related symptoms.
How much paid sick leave do I get?
This new law provides employees with 2 weeks of fully paid, job-protected sick leave in addition to the standard 3 paid sick and safe days offered to all California employees.
What if I already used COVID-19 paid sick leave in 2020?
It doesn't matter if you used paid sick leave for COVID-19 related reasons in 2020, you can use more time off in 2021 if you qualify under this new policy.
When does this policy expire?
This policy expires on September 30, 2021, but if you start your leave on or before September 30th, your paid leave can extend into early October 2021.
What if I used unpaid leave before this new policy came into effect?
If you took unpaid time off of work for any of the COVID-related reasons specified below, you are still owed backpay retroactive to January 1, 2021.
What do I do if my employer won’t let me use my leave or retaliates against me when I return?
If your employer does not give you paid sick leave or treats you worse because you asked for or used paid sick leave, you can file a claim with the Labor Commissioner’s Office or call one of the following free, confidential legal helplines.
Where can I get more information?
You can learn more about California’s 2021 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Policy by checking out these FAQs in English and Spanish.
Also, the Department of Industrial Relations has an Eligibility Navigator Tool to help you understand if you qualify for California’s COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave. The Eligibility Navigator Tool is in English and Spanish.
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