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

The Maryland sick leave law gives you 1 hour for every 30 hours worked, capped at 40 hours a year, for employers of 15 or more must pay; smaller employers provide the leave unpaid. This guide gives the exact maryland sick leave law rule with the date we verified it, the statute, and what to do next.

Rules verified against Maryland Department of Labor, Employment Standards Service on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Maryland Department of Labor, Employment Standards Service or an attorney before you rely on it.

Maryland Sick Leave Law: The Rule

1 hour for every 30 hours worked. 40 hours a year. Covered: employers of 15 or more must pay; smaller employers provide the leave unpaid. The statute is Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. 3-1301 to 3-1311 (Healthy Working Families Act), in effect since February 11, 2018.

What Maryland Sick Leave Law Lets You Use Leave For

Under the Maryland Healthy Working Families Act (Labor & Employment §3-1305), earned sick and safe leave can be used for your own physical or mental illness, injury, condition or preventive care, or to care for a covered family member with the same needs. It also covers maternity or paternity leave and absences tied to domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking against you or a family member.

Confirm current covered uses with the Maryland Department of Labor.

Maryland Sick Leave Law at a Glance

Rules verified against Maryland Department of Labor, Employment Standards Service on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Maryland Department of Labor, Employment Standards Service or an attorney before you rely on it. The statute row is where to check it yourself.

Accrual, Caps and Carryover Under Maryland Sick Leave Law

1 hour for every 30 hours worked; 40 hours a year. If the need for leave is foreseeable, an employer generally may require advance notice, and if it is not, notice as soon as practicable, following the employer’s reasonable call-in rules. For longer absences or leave taken early in employment, an employer may ask for reasonable documentation that the leave was used for a qualifying purpose (§3-1305).

Paid or Unpaid Under Maryland Sick Leave Law

The leave is paid at your regular rate for the covered employers above; smaller employers in some states must give the time unpaid.

Maryland Sick Leave Law and Retaliation

Maryland law bars employers from taking adverse action against a worker for using earned sick and safe leave, filing a complaint, or taking part in a proceeding under the law. Adverse action includes discharge, demotion, threats, or other retaliatory changes to your terms of employment, and the employer cannot count protected leave as an absence that leads to discipline (§3-1308).

Local Rules and Maryland Sick Leave Law

Montgomery County has its own Earned Sick and Safe Leave Law, enforced by the county Office of Human Rights. Workers there may have protections beyond the state law, so confirm with the county.

Other Maryland Sick Leave Law Rules to Know

Employers with fewer employees than the state size threshold must still provide leave, but it can be unpaid. Each pay period, employers must give workers a statement of their used and available leave. Some groups are excluded, including workers under 18 and certain on-call, temporary and construction workers; confirm your status with the Department of Labor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is paid sick leave required in Maryland?

Yes. 1 hour for every 30 hours worked.

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

40 hours a year.

Which employers are covered by the Maryland sick leave law?

Employers of 15 or more must pay; smaller employers provide the leave unpaid.

Can I be fired for using sick leave in Maryland?

Maryland law bars employers from taking adverse action against a worker for using earned sick and safe leave, filing a complaint, or taking part in a proceeding under the law.

When did the Maryland sick leave law take effect?

February 11, 2018.

Official Maryland Sources & Resources

• Maryland Department of Labor, Employment Standards Service: https://www.dllr.state.md.us/labor/wagepay/
• Maryland statute (Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. 3-1301 to 3-1311 (Healthy Working Families Act)): https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gle&section=3-1305&enactments=false
• Verified source: https://marketingpreview.mercer.com/content/dam/mercer-dotcom/migrated-assets/blogs/law-and-policy/2025/07/pdf-2025-roundup-state-accrued-paid-leave-mandates.pdf
• Verified source: https://www.ep.com/legal-and-compliance/sick-and-paid-leave-laws-update/
• Verified source: https://www.hubinternational.com/en-us/hub-resources/absence-management-bulletins/2025/11/2025-2026-state-leave-law-updates/
• Verified source: https://www.postercompliance.com/blog/paid-sick-leave-laws-by-state/
• U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — state payday requirements: dol.gov

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

More Maryland Workplace Rights Guides

• Maryland PTO Laws: Is Unused Vacation Paid Out?
• Maryland Break Laws: Meal and Rest Breaks
• Maryland Labor Laws: Every Rule in One Place
• Maryland Unemployment Eligibility: Who Qualifies
• Unemployment and Workplace Rights Guides for All 50 States

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.