Paid Sick Leave? In Alabama, not so much.

 SOURCE: HERE

The Pacific region of the United States of America has the highest share of workers in the country with access to paid sick leave, with 95% of workers in the region having access to paid sick days. This region includes Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, and California, where progressive labor laws have contributed to these high levels of coverage.

California was one of the first states to implement a comprehensive paid sick leave law, with the Healthy Workplaces Healthy Families Act of 2014 (which requires employers provide paid sick leave to employees who work in California for 30 or more days within a year) being expanded further at the start of 2024.

The runner-up for the highest access to paid sick leave is the U.S. region of New England. This region includes Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, where on average 89% of workers have access to paid sick days.

In contrast, the East South Central region, comprising Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama, comes in last, with 68% of workers having access.

The West South Central region, which comprises Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana, has the second lowest coverage, with 70% access.