Paid Sick Leave in Tennessee
Tennessee (TN) · Paid sick leave · Last reviewed June 2026
State mandate
None statewide
Typical accrual
1 hr per 30 worked
Does Tennessee require paid sick leave?
Tennessee does not currently have a statewide paid sick leave mandate, though some cities may, and the list of states with mandates keeps growing. Many employers offer paid sick time voluntarily to stay competitive.
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.
Official sources
More Tennessee guides
Paid sick leave in other states
Tennessee paid sick leave: frequently asked questions
Is paid sick leave required in Tennessee?
No — Tennessee has no statewide paid sick leave mandate, although some cities may require it and many employers offer it voluntarily.
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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