KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: Philadelphia, PA Paid Sick Time
1) What does the Philadelphia Paid Sick Time law do?
It gives workers up to 40 hours of sick time a year, which can be used to recover from
physical/mental illness or injury; to seek medical diagnosis, treatment, or preventative care; to
care for a family member who is ill or needs medical diagnosis, treatment, or preventative care;
or to address needs that may arise if the worker or a family member is a victim of domestic
violence, a sexual offense, or stalking.
On March 16, 2020, the City released emergency regulations clarifying that sick time under
Philadelphia’s sick time law can also be used for certain COVID-19 related reasons, including:
• Receiving preventive care or being evaluated for possible COVID-19;
• Self-quarantining for 2 weeks due to symptoms of COVID-19, after returning from travel
to a Tier 2 or Tier 3 country (as defined by the Center for Disease Control) with respect
to COVID-19, or as the result of having come into close contact with someone who has
been diagnosed with COVID-19;
• Caring for a family member whose school, daycare, adult care facility, or other care
facility (where care would otherwise be provided for the family member) is closed;
• Remaining at home because their workplace is closed as the result of a requirement by
the Governor, the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health, the Mayor, or the Health
Commissioner;
• Being unable to report to work because of travel restrictions due to a requirement by the
Governor, the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health, the Mayor, or the Health Commissioner;
or
• Self-quarantining as a result of the recommendations of a health care professional, the
CDC, the Governor, the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health, the Mayor, or the Health
Commissioner because the worker or a family member is at greater risk of harm than the
general population is the worker of their family member contracts COVID-19.
The emergency regulations went into effect immediately and remain in effect until the local
disaster emergency declared by the Mayor in response to COVID-19 is lifted.
Additionally, on March 9, 2022, Mayor Kenney signed a COVID-19 sick time law, which gives
certain workers additional sick time in relation to COVID-19.* COVID-19 sick time can be used
if an employee is unable to work because:
• A public official or public health authority, a health care provider, or an employer has
determined that the employee’s presence on the job or in the community would
jeopardize the health of others because of the employee’s exposure to COVID-19 or
because the employee is exhibiting symptoms that might jeopardize the health of others,