Paid and Sick Leave

  • Arizonans may not be able to go into work if they have been recommended by their health care provider to quarantine at home or in a hospital, need to care for someone who is quarantining, or need to care for their child whose school or daycare is closed. Employees who meet these criteria and whose employer qualifies may be able to receive up to two weeks of paid sick leave. 

  • Arizonans who cannot go to work because their child’s school or daycare is closed may also qualify for paid family leave. Employees who meet this criteria and whose employer qualifies may be able to receive up to twelve weeks of paid family leave. 
  • Employers may also be eligible to receive tax credits to offset paid sick and family leave provided to employees. Please note that qualifying employers who must provide these new leave options outlined above are typically businesses between 50 and 500 employees. Health care providers and first responders may not be able to take certain kinds of leave due to the critical nature of their jobs in caring for our communities. For more information on the Employee Retention Tax Credit, visit my Taxes page, HERE.

FAQ for Emergency Paid Sick Leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the CARES Act, HERE.

The majority of new guidleines pertaining to paid and sick leave were passed under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) published its first round of implementation guidance pursuant to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) on March 24, 2020.

The initial WHD guidance is available in three-parts:

The guidance addresses critical questions such as:

  • How does an employer count its number of employees to determine coverage?
  • How can small businesses obtain an exemption?
  • How does an employer count hours for part-time employees?
  • How does an employer calculate wages employees are entitled to under the FFCRA?