Pennsylvania Labor Laws

Pennsylvania Sick Leave Law: Accrual, Caps and Who Is Covered — Best Proven Guide (2026)

By Oleg Kachko · Updated October 8, 2026
✓ Verified October 2026

There is no Pennsylvania sick leave law for private employers: no Pennsylvania law requires paid sick leave; the employer’s own policy or a union contract controls, and the federal FMLA gives up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave at employers of 50 or more. This guide gives the exact pennsylvania sick leave law rule with the date we verified it, the statute, and what to do next.

Rules verified against Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Bureau of Labor Law Compliance on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Bureau of Labor Law Compliance or an attorney before you rely on it.

Pennsylvania Sick Leave Law at a Glance

Advertisement
Law No state paid-sick-leave mandate
What applies instead The employer’s policy; the federal FMLA (unpaid, employers of 50 or more)
Statute No statute

Pennsylvania Sick Leave Law: The Rule

No Pennsylvania law requires paid sick leave; the employer’s own policy or a union contract controls, and the federal FMLA gives up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave at employers of 50 or more. Many employers offer sick days anyway; once promised in a written policy, they are enforceable as part of your pay.

⚠ No Pennsylvania sick leave law requires paid sick days; check the handbook, and the federal FMLA for unpaid job-protected leave.

What Pennsylvania Sick Leave Law Lets You Use Leave For

Pennsylvania has no statewide sick-leave law, so state law generally does not require private employers to provide sick leave. The federal FMLA may give eligible workers unpaid, job-protected leave for their own serious health condition, to care for a spouse, child or parent with a serious health condition, or for the birth or placement of a child. Confirm eligibility with the U.S. Department of Labor.

Pennsylvania Sick Leave Law at a Glance

Rules verified against Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Bureau of Labor Law Compliance on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Bureau of Labor Law Compliance or an attorney before you rely on it. The statute row is where to check it yourself.

Law No state paid-sick-leave mandate
What applies instead The employer’s policy; the federal FMLA (unpaid, employers of 50 or more)
Statute No statute

Accrual, Caps and Carryover Under Pennsylvania Sick Leave Law

Under the FMLA, an employer may generally require advance notice when the need for leave is foreseeable, and notice as soon as practicable when it is not. An employer may also ask for a medical certification from a health care provider to support the leave.

Unpaid unless the employer promises pay; the FMLA is unpaid by design.

Pennsylvania Sick Leave Law and Retaliation

The FMLA generally bars employers from interfering with, restraining or denying FMLA rights, and from firing or disciplining a worker for using protected leave. Workers who believe they were penalized may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.

Local Rules and Pennsylvania Sick Leave Law

Philadelphia (Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces ordinance) and Pittsburgh (Paid Sick Days Act) each require covered employers to provide paid sick time to employees who work within city limits. Confirm coverage with the city enforcement office.

📨 Get Free Unemployment And Workplace Rights Guides Alerts

Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime

Other Pennsylvania Sick Leave Law Rules to Know

Collective bargaining agreements can modify the rules, and new laws usually take effect on January 1 — check the effective date on this page.

Denied the leave you earned? The labor department enforces the sick-leave law for free.

Contact Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Bureau of Labor Law Compliance

Pennsylvania — the bottom line

  • The pennsylvania sick leave law does not exist for private employers — the handbook and the federal FMLA are the rules.
  • Under the pennsylvania sick leave law promised sick days in a written policy are still enforceable pay.
  • The pennsylvania sick leave law question is answered by your employer policy, not the statute book.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is paid sick leave required in Pennsylvania?

No. Pennsylvania has no paid-sick-leave mandate for private employers.

How much sick leave do I get under Pennsylvania sick leave law?

Whatever the employer’s policy provides.

Which employers are covered by the Pennsylvania sick leave law?

No employer is required to provide it.

Can I be fired for using sick leave in Pennsylvania?

The FMLA generally bars employers from interfering with, restraining or denying FMLA rights, and from firing or disciplining a worker for using protected leave.

When did the Pennsylvania sick leave law take effect?

There is no such law.

Official Pennsylvania Sources & Resources

This pennsylvania sick leave law guide was last verified against official Pennsylvania sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.

More Pennsylvania Workplace Rights Guides

Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. My Unemployment Rights is an independent educational resource, not a government agency and not a law firm. Final-paycheck deadlines, penalties and non compete rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it. Confirm the current rule with your state labor department or a licensed attorney before you act.

Hurt at work before you lost the job? See whether workers comp or unemployment applies at Workers Comp Explained. Denied unemployment because you cannot work? Social Security disability may be the right program - start at Disability Claim Info. Lost income and worried about rent? Know your rights before an eviction notice arrives at Tenant Rights Info.