Free · all 50 states · 2026
Paid Sick Leave Calculator
Find out how much paid sick leave you've accrued, and check if your state requires it to be paid out when you quit.
Quick answer
There is no federal paid-sick-leave law. About 18 states plus Washington, DC require employers to provide it. The most common accrual rate is 1 hour of paid sick leave per 30 hours worked (some states use 1 hour per 40).
Example: at 1 hour per 30, working 1,200 hours earns 1,200 ÷ 30 = 40 sick-leave hours.
Unlike PTO/vacation, most states do NOT require unused sick leave to be paid out when you leave a job — unless your employer bundles it into a single PTO bank.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get paid for unused sick leave when I quit?
In almost all US states, no. Unlike accrued vacation pay (which California, Colorado, and several other states treat as earned wages), sick leave is almost universally NOT required to be paid out at termination. The major exception: if your employer bundles sick leave and vacation into a single "PTO" bank, the entire balance may be subject to your state's PTO payout rules.
What is the difference between accrual and frontloaded sick leave?
Accrual means you earn sick leave gradually as you work — typically 1 hour for every 30 or 40 hours worked. Frontloading means your employer gives you the full year's sick leave balance at the start of the year. Frontloaded leave generally does NOT carry over to the next year. Accrued leave typically does carry over, up to the state's carryover cap.
Which states require employers to provide paid sick leave?
As of 2026, over 15 states plus Washington DC require employers to provide paid sick leave, including California, New York, Washington, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont, Rhode Island, Arizona, and New Mexico. Many major cities (NYC, Chicago, Seattle) have additional local ordinances on top of state law.
Can my employer deny my sick leave request?
Generally no — if you are eligible and have accrued hours, your employer cannot deny sick leave for covered reasons (illness, medical appointments, caring for a family member). However, employers can require reasonable notice for foreseeable absences and may request documentation for absences over 3 consecutive days in most states. Retaliation for using sick leave is illegal in all states with mandatory sick leave laws.
Related Tools
Read the guide behind this calculator
- PTO Laws · 7 min read PTO Payout Laws by State: The Complete 2026 GuideDiscover which states legally require employers to pay out unused PTO when you quit or get fired. Check our 2026 state-by-state guide.
- PTO Laws · 4 min read What Happens to Your PTO When You Get Laid Off?Find out if your employer must pay your unused PTO after a layoff, how the WARN Act protects you, and exactly what steps to take in your first 48 hours.
- PTO Laws · 4 min read Unlimited PTO: Do You Get Paid Out When You Quit? (2026)Most employees with unlimited PTO are surprised to learn they may receive nothing when they leave. Here's the truth about unlimited PTO payout laws in 2026.