Workers in California will soon receive a minimum of five days of paid sick leave annually, instead of three, under a new law Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Wednesday.

The law, which takes effect in January, also increases the amount of sick leave workers can carry over into the following year. Newsom said it demonstrates that prioritizing the health and well-being of workers “is of the utmost importance for California’s future.”

“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,” Newsom said in a statement announcing his action.

      • dumdum666@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        Not true - you do not get infinite sick days

        You get your regular salary for up to 6 weeks, after that there is a steep drop in pay - since you receive „sick pay“ then. After 72 weeks sick pay ends. Then you might be eligible for social security.

          • dumdum666@kbin.social
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            1 year ago

            No - not that easy. it is 70% of your pre tax income with a maximum of 90% your net income. How deep the cut actually is depends on several factors. One factor: There is a maximum amount you can receive - no matter how high your income was. If you earn well and cross that threshold, you will receive way less than the official percentages. To compensate for that you have to get a private insurance.

        • speaker_hat@lemmy.one
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          1 year ago

          Thanks, compared to 5 days, 6 weeks subjectively feels infinite (for an average healthy employee)

          • MeanEYE@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            It’s important to point out, this is not people deciding not to come to work for 6 weeks and all is good, government picks up the tab. You actually have to be sick, that is to say doctor opens this leave, confirms there’s a need for one, etc.

        • Black616Angel@feddit.de
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          1 year ago

          That is also not completely correct.

          You can get infinite sick days. It just has to be a different illness every 6 weeks. (not repeating the same year)

          • dumdum666@kbin.social
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            1 year ago

            If you stay in the first 6 weeks threshold you are technically correct - but good luck finding an employer that will keep employing you. You will get sent to an doctor appointed by your employer and if you are „simulating“ you will get fired easily.

    • Pat_Riot@lemmy.today
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      1 year ago

      Cries in a different US state where our company busted us from 40 hours of sick time to 24 to make every plant in the country equal to California’s minimum because it’s the only state with one of our facilities that has a minimum. I’m curious to see if this ends up bringing all our plants up to 40 hours or they hope none of us lowly factory workers pays attention to this sort of thing. I’ll be asking at the next communication meeting.

    • NuPNuA@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Laughs in English, but the real English not American English.