Paid Sick Leave in District of Columbia
District of Columbia (DC) · Paid sick leave · Last reviewed July 2026
State mandate
Yes
Typical accrual
1 hr per 30 worked
Does District of Columbia Require Paid Sick Leave?
District of Columbia has a statewide paid sick leave requirement. A common standard is that employees accrue one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, often with an annual cap, though the exact accrual rate, caps, and carryover rules vary. Check the official rules for current details.
How Accrual Usually Works
Where sick leave is required, employers typically choose between accrual (employees earn time as they work, e.g., 1 hour per 30 worked) and front-loading (granting a lump sum at the start of the year). A time and attendance system makes either method easy by tracking hours worked and balances automatically.
Recordkeeping
Track accrued and used sick time per employee, show balances on pay stubs where required, and keep the records for the retention period your state specifies.
District of Columbia Labor-Law Snapshot
District of Columbia mandates paid sick leave (typically ~1 hour earned per 30 worked). Separately, the District of Columbia minimum wage is $18.40/hour (about $11.15 above the federal $7.25), overtime is about $27.60/hour, and a final paycheck is due by the next business day on discharge.
For District of Columbia employers these rules interact with timekeeping: accurate, audit-logged hours drive overtime, sick-leave accrual, final pay, and break records. District of Columbia sets no statewide meal-break requirement and does not mandate paid rest breaks; a final paycheck is due by the next regular payday or within 7 days, whichever is sooner when an employee resigns. Confirm current District of Columbia figures with the state labor office before relying on any single number.
Official Sources
More District of Columbia Guides
Paid Sick Leave in Other States
District of Columbia Paid Sick Leave: Frequently Asked Questions
Is paid sick leave required in District of Columbia?
Yes — District of Columbia has a statewide paid sick leave law, commonly accruing one hour for every 30 hours worked, often with an annual cap.
How much sick leave do employees earn?
Where required, a common standard is one hour of paid sick time per 30 hours worked, subject to caps and carryover rules that vary — check the current rules.
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