This past November, Massachusetts voters approved a ballot measure allowing Massachusetts employees to earn and use sick time under certain conditions. Under the new law, employees who work for employers with 11 or more employees will be eligible to earn and use up to 40 hours of paid sick time per calendar year. Employees working for smaller employers with 10 or fewer employees will be eligible to earn and use up to 40 hours of unpaid sick time per calendar year. The law covers both private and public employers and applies to exempt, non-exempt, full-time, part-time, and temporary employees and goes into effect July 1, 2015.

Massachusetts employers will need to understand how this new law impacts their current sick leave and/or any paid time off (“PTO”) policy. In addition, Employers with existing PTO or sick time policies should review those policies to ensure they are in compliance with the new law, including the notice and posting requirements. To discuss any issues regarding the new sick leave law, please do not hesitate to contact us.