Paid leave laws by state: family, medical and sick leave mandates
There is no federal paid-leave mandate. As of 1 July 2026, 13 US jurisdictions run a paid family and medical leave program and 21 mandate paid sick leave.
There is no federal paid-leave mandate in the US: the federal Family and Medical Leave Act gives eligible employees unpaid, job-protected leave, but whether leave is paid is set state by state. A growing group of states run paid family and medical leave (PFML) insurance programs, funded by payroll contributions, that pay a portion of wages during bonding, caregiving or a serious health condition. A larger group mandate paid sick leave for shorter absences. Many of the newest programs phase in over 2025 to 2027, with contributions starting before benefits. The table shows where each state stands on both.
The big picture
The federal FMLA gives unpaid leave only. As of 1 July 2026, 13 of the 51 US jurisdictions (50 states and DC) run a statewide paid family and medical leave program, and 21 mandate paid sick leave. Several of the newest programs phase in through 2027, with payroll contributions starting before benefits.
Position as at 1 July 2026. Source.
Is there a federal paid leave law?
No. The federal Family and Medical Leave Act gives eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave. Whether any of that leave is paid is set by each state, so paid family, medical and sick leave vary widely across the country.
What is the difference between PFML and paid sick leave?
Paid family and medical leave (PFML) is usually a state insurance program, funded by payroll contributions, that replaces part of your wages during longer absences like bonding with a new child or a serious illness. Paid sick leave is shorter, employer-provided time for routine illness or appointments. A state can mandate one, both, or neither.
Which states have paid family and medical leave?
California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New York, Washington, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Oregon, Colorado and DC run active programs, and several more, such as Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota and Maine, are phasing in. The table shows each state's program and its in-force date.
How does this work if you hire through an EOR?
When Teamed is your Employer of Record, paid leave compliance for your US team sits with us: we apply the correct state's rules in every state you hire in, so you get one compliant relationship instead of 50 rulebooks to track. You stay the day-to-day manager.
Paid leave by state
51 jurisdictions
| Source | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | PFML + sick leave | Yes, benefits since 2004 | Yes | 2004-07-01 | source |
| Colorado | PFML + sick leave | Yes, benefits since 2024 | Yes | 2021-01-01 | source |
| Connecticut | PFML + sick leave | Yes, benefits since 2022 | Yes | 2012-01-01 | source |
| District of Columbia | PFML + sick leave | Yes, benefits since 2020 | Yes | 2014-02-22 | source |
| Maine | PFML + sick leave | Yes, benefits since 2026 | Yes | 2021-01-01 | source |
| Massachusetts | PFML + sick leave | Yes, benefits since 2021 | Yes | 2015-07-01 | source |
| Minnesota | PFML + sick leave | Yes, benefits since 2026 | Yes | 2024-01-01 | source |
| New Jersey | PFML + sick leave | Yes, benefits since 2009 | Yes | 2009-07-01 | source |
| New York | PFML + sick leave | Yes, benefits since 2018 | Yes | 2018-01-01 | source |
| Oregon | PFML + sick leave | Yes, benefits since 2023 | Yes | 2016-01-01 | source |
| Rhode Island | PFML + sick leave | Yes, benefits since 2014 | Yes | 2014-01-01 | source |
| Washington | PFML + sick leave | Yes, benefits since 2020 | Yes | 2018-01-01 | source |
| Alaska | Sick leave | No | Yes | 2025-07-01 | source |
| Arizona | Sick leave | No | Yes | 2017-07-01 | source |
| Delaware | PFML program | Yes, benefits since 2026 | No | 2026-01-01 | source |
| Illinois | Sick leave | No | Yes | 2024-01-01 | source |
| Maryland | Sick leave | Enacted, benefits 2028 | Yes | 2018-02-11 | source |
| Michigan | Sick leave | No | Yes | 2025-02-21 | source |
| Nebraska | Sick leave | No | Yes | 2025-10-01 | source |
| Nevada | Sick leave | No | Yes | 2020-01-01 | source |
| New Mexico | Sick leave | No | Yes | 2022-07-01 | source |
| Vermont | Sick leave | No | Yes | 2017-01-01 | source |
| Virginia | Upcoming | Enacted, benefits 2028 | No | Upcoming: Dec 2028 | source |
| Alabama | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| Arkansas | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| Florida | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| Georgia | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| Hawaii | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| Idaho | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| Indiana | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| Iowa | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| Kansas | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| Kentucky | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| Louisiana | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| Mississippi | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| Missouri | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| Montana | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| New Hampshire | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| North Carolina | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| North Dakota | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| Ohio | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| Oklahoma | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| Pennsylvania | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| South Carolina | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| South Dakota | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| Tennessee | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| Texas | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| Utah | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| West Virginia | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| Wisconsin | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
| Wyoming | No state mandate | No | No | None | source |
Frequently asked questions
Who pays for state paid family and medical leave?
Most PFML programs are funded by payroll contributions, sometimes shared between employer and employee, and pay a percentage of wages during covered leave. The specifics vary by state.
Do small employers have to provide paid sick leave?
It depends on the state. Some sick-leave mandates apply to all employers; others exempt the smallest. Each state's rule is summarised in its full guide.
Can Teamed handle this across multiple states?
Yes. As the legal employer, Teamed applies each state's paid leave rules for your US team, so you hire across the country without setting up payroll or reading the statute in every state. Teamed's HR and legal experts keep it compliant as the law changes.
US employment law is set state by state, and it keeps moving. When Teamed is your legal employer, this is our job in every state: compliant offers, postings and policies that meet each state’s rules, so you can hire across the US without setting up 50 payrolls or reading 50 statutes.
