What it can be used for
Own or family member's illness, injury or medical appointments; domestic violence; and, since November 2024, pregnancy loss or failed adoption, surrogacy or assisted reproduction. Source: mass.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)
Notice and documentation
Employees give advance notice when possible. Employers may ask for documentation when sick time covers more than 24 consecutively scheduled work hours. Source: malegislature.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)
Penalties
Attorney General enforces; employees who win in court get mandatory triple damages for lost wages and benefits plus attorney fees. Source: malegislature.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)
The law and where to check
The law: M.G.L. c. 149, § 148C; 940 CMR 33.00 (opens in a new tab)
The agency: Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, Fair Labor Division (opens in a new tab)
What federal law says
No federal law requires private employers to give paid sick leave. Federal contractors must give up to 7 days a year under Executive Order 13706. Source: U.S. Department of Labor↗ (opens in a new tab) Source: U.S. DOL — EO 13706↗ (opens in a new tab)
Paid sick leave checklist for Massachusetts employers
A simple order of work, based on the rules above. It is not a legal checklist.
- Check whether your business size is covered by the rule above.
- Set up accrual in your payroll or HR system (or front-load the yearly amount).
- Write a sick leave policy covering accrual, the cap, carryover, notice and documentation.
- Show each employee's balance where your state requires it.
- Check for city or county sick leave laws where your staff work.
- Keep records of time earned and used.
More Massachusetts employment law guides
- All Massachusetts employment laws
- Massachusetts final paycheck law
- Massachusetts meal and rest break laws
- Massachusetts overtime law
- Massachusetts pay frequency law
- Massachusetts vacation and PTO payout law
- Massachusetts new hire reporting
- Massachusetts at-will exceptions
Paid sick leave laws in other states
See every state on one page, or pick a state:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
All official government sources, last checked October 19, 2026.
- https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXXI/Chapter149/Section148C
- https://www.mass.gov/info-details/earned-sick-time
- https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXXI/Chapter149/Section150
- https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/workhours/sickleave
- https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/sick-leave
Disclaimer: This guide provides general information based on publicly available official sources and is for information only. It is not legal, tax, payroll or employment-law advice and does not guarantee compliance with federal, state or local requirements. Rules can depend on your location, industry, contracts and other circumstances, and laws change. Always check the official source, the relevant government agency or a qualified professional before making a decision. MadyHR.ai accepts no responsibility for any action taken based on this page.
Last checked: . Every rule and source link on this page was checked against the official government source on this date. Laws change, so always open the source link before you act.