You asked if state law requires private sector employers to provide paid sick leave and, if not, do Connecticut employers offer it. You also wanted to know if neighboring states require paid sick leave.

Connecticut law does not require employers to provide paid sick leave and, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, neither does any other state.

A 2004 Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA) survey of its members indicated that 79% of the responding businesses said they provide paid sick leave for their employees. CBIA mailed a 21-page benefits survey to each of its approximately 8,000 members and received 374 responses (about 4. 7% of its members).

The U. S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics’ National Compensation Survey released in November 2004 shows that nationwide 59% of all private industry workers receive paid sick leave. When broken down by geographic area (the survey does not provide the data by state) New England has the highest percentage of employees who get paid sick leave at 66%. The Middle Atlantic region is next with 62%.

Table 1 shows the percentage of workers who receive paid sick leave when broken down by other characteristics.

Table 1: Percentages of Private-Sector U. S. Workers

Receiving Paid Sick Leave

Source: US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics “National Compensation Survey, March 2004”

JM: ts