On Oct. 4, 2023, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 616 by Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) to increase workers’ paid sick leave from three days to five days per year. The bill, which goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, will also increase the number of accrued paid sick days employees can carry over into the next year.
Gov. Newsom’s Office explained the significance of the bill:
- Working sick costs the national economy $273 billion annually in lost productivity.
- Two days of unpaid sick time is nearly the equivalent of a month’s worth of groceries.
- Offering sick days helps save employers money through improved productivity and morale, as well as reduced presenteeism and turnover.
- Increasing access to paid sick days reduces health care costs, with evidence showing that when workers have paid sick days such costs go down and workers’ health benefits.
Newsom said in a written statement: “Too many folks are still having to choose between skipping a day’s pay and taking care of themselves or their family members when they get sick. We’re making it known that the health and wellbeing of workers and their families is of the utmost importance for California’s future.”
WG was part of a large business coalition in opposition to the bill.