On September 7, 2015, President Obama issued an executive order that will require federal contractors and subcontractors to provide their employees with up to seven or more paid sick leave days a year. The Order gives requirements for accrual, carryover, and payout of the leave, including that: (i) employees must accrue at least 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked (up to at least 56 accrued hours); (ii) unused paid sick leave hours carry over to the next year; but (iii) employers don’t have to pay employees for unused accrued sick leave upon termination. Employees may use the leave to care for themselves, a family member, or even a loved one, or for absences resulting from stalking, sexual assault, or domestic violence. For additional information regarding the specific requirements and conditions of the Order, see https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/09/08/executive-order-establishing-paid-sick-leave-federal-contractors.

Stay tuned for the details. The Secretary of Labor will issue regulations by September 30, 2016 and the Order is to apply to federal contracts entered into after January 1, 2017. Non-federal contractors should also beware, as this looks like another example of the Administration laying the groundwork to expand federal contractor requirements to all employers over time.