Newsom Signs Increase in Paid Sick Leave for California Workers

Workers in California will be guaranteed a minimum of five paid sick days a year under a new law Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed Wednesday.

The bill (S.B. 616) was one of several major victories for the state’s labor movement during a legislative session that ended Sept. 14. But while the measure, which takes effect next year, provides two more additional days than in current law, it does not go as far as the initial bill that would have given workers seven paid sick days a year.

Still, backers welcomed the law, arguing the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated that ...