California Paid Sick Leave is a state law that requires employers in California to provide their employees with paid sick leave. The law applies to all employers, regardless of size, and to all employees who work in California for at least 30 days within a year from the start of their employment.

Under the law, employees accrue one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, and can use their accrued sick leave for their own illness or for the illness of a family member, for preventive care, or for reasons related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Employers may also choose to provide a lump sum of sick leave at the beginning of each year instead of using the accrual method.

Employees must be allowed to carry over up to 48 hours of unused sick leave each year, or the employer may choose to provide the full 48 hours at the beginning of each year. Employers are also required to provide written notice to employees about their rights to paid sick leave, and to keep records of sick leave accrual and usage.

If an employer fails to provide paid sick leave as required by law, employees may file a complaint with the California Labor Commissioner’s office or may pursue legal action to recover unpaid wages and penalties. The California Paid Sick Leave law is intended to help ensure that employees have access to paid time off when they are sick or need to care for a family member, which can help prevent the spread of illness and improve overall employee health and well-being.