UPDATE: California Paid Sick Leave Effective January 1

Starting on January 1, 2024, employers must generally provide 5 days or 40 hours of paid sick leave to their employees in California. The Labor Commissioner has updated the paid sick leave poster and 2810.5 employee notice. All employers should post the new poster. An employer previously providing less than 5 days or 40 hours of paid sick leave per year will need to provide employees a new copy of the notice.

As of January 1, GreenSlate will automatically update the accrual rate for employees assigned the California Paid Sick Leave policy to meet the minimum requirements. Sick leave will continue to be accrued at a rate of 1 hour for every 30 hours worked under the minimum policy.  Sick time can be used in any increments. When “Sick” days/hours are paid out, accrued sick time balances are reduced and these sick days/hours are deemed “used.” If a timecard does not direct the number of hours of sick time taken, the GreenSlate system will default to a usage of 8 hours for a sick day at the applicable guaranteed day rate the employee is entitled. When reviewing their payroll, clients may amend the default sick time entries as needed.  

California has also clarified that if an employee is usually scheduled for more, or less, than an eight hour day, taking a sick day means that the employee should be paid for the normal amount of hours that constitutes a day of work.  

Additional details and FAQ’s may be found on the California State website.

Please note that the new 2024 sick time accrual amount will not affect existing California Paid Sick Leave balances in the GreenSlate system. Additionally, employers are free to configure their own custom company policies. For more information on how to configure your own paid time off or sick time policies and see our PTO Tracker, click here.

Last updated: 12.21.23. This information in this communication is general in nature, and is not intended, nor should it be construed, as legal, accounting, tax or other professional advice rendered by GreenSlate, LLC. The reader should contact his or her attorney, CPA, or tax professional prior to taking any action based upon this information.