Additional Earnings: Paid Sick Leave Provided by Federal Contractors
The DOL has issued final regulations requiring certain government contractors to provide their employees with up to seven days of paid sick leave annually, including paid leave allowing for family care. This bill is called the executive order or 13706, establishing paid sick leave for federal contractors. For more detailed information, visit the US Department of Labor website on contractor sick leave requirements.
What government contractors are required to provide paid sick leave?
There are five categories of federal contractors subject to DOL’s sick leave regulations:
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Procurement contracts for constitution covered by the Davis-Bacon related Acts
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Contracts covered by the McNamara-OHara Service Contract Act
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Concessions contracts
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Contracts in connection with federal property or lands related to offering services for federal employees, their dependents, or the general public
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Employees who qualify for an exemption from the FLSA minimum wage and overtime provisions and certain contracts within the US postal service.
A covered federal contractor must either allow employees working under a covered federal contract to either accrue either:
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One hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked
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The employer can provide an employee with at least 56 hours of sick leave at the beginning of the year
What happens to unused sick leave?
Unused leave is to be carried over to the next year, however a contractor covered in the guidelines above are not required to pay employees for unused sick leave when they separate from their jobs.