Beginning July 1, 2015, all Massachusetts employees have the right to earn and take sick leave from work. Employees working for employers with 11 or more employees must be paid their regular wage or salary. Employers must count all company employees whether or not they work in Massachusetts. Employees working for employers with 10 or fewer employees may take unpaid sick leave.

Sick leave is accrued at 1 hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked – up to a maximum of 40 hours per year. Employers may offer more sick time if they wish. Up to 40 hours of unused sick leave may be carried over to a new year. However, employers do not have to continue to accrue sick time unless an employee’s unused balance falls below 40 hours. Terminated employees do not have to be paid unused sick time.

Employers may charge employees sick time for the total time they are away from their scheduled work hours. For example, if an employee requests one hour sick leave for a doctor’s visit, but is actually absent two hours, the employee may be charged two hours sick leave.

Employees may not use sick leave as an excuse for being late to work without notice of proper use.