Your employer would have to give you paid sick leave under a new Texas rule
What it does
HB 808 would require employers to give employees paid sick leave, earning one hour for every 30 hours worked. Workers could start using it 60 calendar days after their first day on the job, or sooner if the employer agrees, and unused hours would roll into the next year unless the employer pays them out at the end of the year. You could use the leave for your own illness or injury, a family member's illness, medical visits and preventive care, a school meeting for your child, or to handle family violence, sexual assault, stalking, or harassment. Employers could ask for documentation for three or more consecutive days, they would pay for getting that paperwork, and they could not punish you for asking for or using the leave.
What it means for your community
Starting January 1, 2028, new hires and current workers would start earning paid sick leave, and workers hired before then could begin using it 90 calendar days after that date. Small businesses in your city would have to track the hours, post a notice in English and Spanish at hiring, and keep records for at least three years. If your job already includes other paid leave at the same rate or better, the employer would already be in compliance, and a union contract can waive the rule in clear language. Workers can file a complaint with the Texas Workforce Commission, and an employer that breaks the chapter can face penalties and pay damages.
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