A look at paid sick leave laws, where they exist

Paid sick leave laws are slowly gaining acceptance in cities in the Northeast and on the West Coast. The laws have been enacted in seven cities and the state of Connecticut. Although there are variations among the laws, they generally require employers to give employees as much as five days of sick time, accrued at the rate of one hour for every 30 or 40 hours worked. Workers can also use the time to care for sick children or relatives.

Whether a company must provide sick days depends on their location. In Newark, N.J., all companies must offer sick time. In Connecticut, only those with 50 workers or more must comply.