Alaska Passes Paid Sick Leave Law

Alaska’s new sick leave law (here) goes into effect on July 1, 2025.  Employers with 15 or more employees in the State are entitled to accrue and use up to 56 sick leave hours per year, and those with less than 15 employees, up to 40 sick leave hours per year.  Unused sick leave is carried over from year to year, up to the aforementioned accrual limits.  Sick leave accrues at the rate of 1 hour for every 30 hours worked.  There is no waiting period before employees can use sick leave under this new paid sick leave law in Alaska.  Payout of the accrued balance is not required upon separation of employment.  And if rehired by the same employer within 6 months of separation, previously unused sick leave is restored to the worker.  

The new Alaskan paid sick leave law is waivable by collective bargaining agreement.  And a notice of these rights must be given to employees at the time of hire and to existing employees within 30 days of the law’s effective date.  The law is silent as to whether the State will publish a model notice, and no FAQs are available yet at time of this article.