Paid sick leave for California churches

If your church employs people in California, state paid sick leave law almost certainly applies to you. The rules changed on January 1, 2024.

The main requirements

• Minimum amount. Covered employees must be able to earn or receive at least five days or 40 hours of paid sick leave each year.
• Two ways to provide it. You can accrue it at the rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked, or you can front-load the full amount at the start of the year. Other accrual methods are allowed if employees get at least 40 hours by the 200th day of employment.
• Cap and carryover. With accrual, unused leave carries over, and an employer may cap an employee's total balance at 10 days or 80 hours. If you front-load the full amount at the start of each year, carryover is not required.
• Use. Employees may use it for their own or a family member's diagnosis, care or treatment of a health condition, for preventive care, and in certain cases tied to domestic violence or other crimes. The minimum increment you may require is two hours.
• No retaliation. You cannot discipline an employee for using protected sick leave.
• Records. Keep records of hours worked and sick leave accrued and used, and show the available balance on pay statements or in a separate written notice.

Local rules

Some California cities, such as San Francisco, Los Angeles and Oakland, have their own sick leave ordinances, and some are more generous. Check your city.

Vacation is different

California treats earned vacation as wages. A "use it or lose it" policy is generally not allowed, though you may cap accrual. When employment ends, unused accrued vacation must be paid out. Sick leave is not paid out at separation under the state law.

What to do now

1. Check that your handbook gives at least 40 hours a year, and that your policy method (front-load or accrue) is written down.
2. Update your pay statement or a separate notice to show leave balances.
3. Train supervisors not to question or penalize legitimate sick leave use.
4. Generate a draft policy with our PTO policy generator, then have it reviewed.

Sources

California Department of Industrial Relations, Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act; law-firm summaries of the 2024 changes, including Greenberg Traurig. Rules can change, so confirm with the state agency or an employment attorney.

Related guides

• Employee or independent contractor? A guide for churches
• What to include in a church employee handbook
• How to hire church staff: a practical process

Published Oct 3, 2026. General information, not legal, tax or HR advice. Rules vary by state and by church.