Connecticut paid sick leave calculator
From January 1, 2027, every Connecticut employer with at least one employee must provide paid sick leave. Enter your hours and start date to see how much leave you earn and when you can use it.
Connecticut paid sick leave at a glance
| Rule | What the law says |
|---|---|
| Who must provide it | Employers with 1 or more employees in Connecticut from January 1, 2027 |
| Accrual rate | 1 hour for every 30 hours worked |
| Yearly limit | Accrue and use up to 40 hours a year |
| Carryover | Up to 40 unused hours, unless the employer front-loads 40 hours each year |
| Waiting period | Usable from the 120th calendar day of employment |
| Pay rate | Normal hourly wage or the state minimum wage ($17.48 from January 1, 2027), whichever is higher |
| Smallest use | One hour |
The phase-in by employer size
| Employees in Connecticut | Must provide paid sick leave from |
|---|---|
| 25 or more | January 1, 2025 |
| 11 or more | January 1, 2026 |
| 1 or more | January 1, 2027 |
Size is counted from the employer's payroll for the week that contains January 1. A business that grows during the year is judged on its count the following January.
What you can use it for
- Your own illness, injury or health condition, including diagnosis, treatment and preventive care.
- Caring for a family member: a spouse, child of any age, parent, sibling, grandparent or grandchild, or anyone with a similar close relationship.
- Mental health wellness days.
- Closure of your workplace or a child's school for a public health emergency.
- Time off related to family violence or sexual assault, such as medical care, counseling, relocation or court.
Worked examples
Full-time worker at a small business
Maria has worked 40 hours a week at a five-person bakery since June 2026. The bakery is covered from January 1, 2027. She starts earning leave that day and can use it as soon as she earns it, because her 120 days have already passed. She earns 1.33 hours a week and reaches the 40-hour limit at the end of July 2027.
Part-time new hire
James starts on February 15, 2027, working 20 hours a week at $18 an hour. He earns 0.67 hours a week, about 34.7 hours over a year. He can use his leave from June 14, 2027, his 120th day, when he will have about 11 hours saved.
What small employers need to do before January 2027
- Set up a way to track hours worked and sick leave earned and used for each employee, and keep the records for three years.
- Display the state poster in English and Spanish, and send it by email or a digital platform to remote workers.
- Give each employee written notice of their rights, and give it to new employees on their first day.
- Decide whether to accrue hour by hour or front-load 40 hours at the start of each year.
Frequently asked questions
Do small employers in Connecticut have to give paid sick leave in 2027?
Yes. From January 1, 2027, every private employer with one or more employees in Connecticut must provide paid sick leave. Employers with 25 or more employees have been covered since January 1, 2025, and those with 11 or more since January 1, 2026.
How is employer size counted?
By the number of employees on the employer's Connecticut payroll for the week that contains January 1 each year.
How much paid sick leave do you get in Connecticut?
You earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours you work, up to 40 hours a year. A full-time employee working 40 hours a week reaches 40 hours after about 30 weeks.
When can a new employee start using sick leave?
From the 120th calendar day of employment. Employees hired long before their employer became covered can use leave as soon as they have earned it. Employers may let people use it sooner.
Does unused sick leave carry over?
Up to 40 unused hours carry over to the next year, but the employer only has to let you use 40 hours in a year. Employers can avoid carryover by front-loading 40 hours at the start of each year.
How are salaried exempt employees treated?
Employees exempt from overtime are treated as working 40 hours a week, so they earn about 1.33 hours a week. If their normal week is shorter, they accrue for the hours they normally work.
What rate is sick leave paid at?
Your normal hourly wage, or the Connecticut minimum wage if that is higher. The minimum wage rises to $17.48 on January 1, 2027. Overtime and commission are not included.
Who is not covered?
Seasonal employees who work 120 days or less a year, certain union construction workers covered by a multiemployer health plan, and self-employed people.
Is unused sick leave paid out when you leave?
Not by law. It is only paid out if the employer's policy, your contract or a collective bargaining agreement says so.
Sources
- Connecticut Department of Labor: Paid Sick Leave FAQs
- Connecticut Department of Labor: Paid Sick Leave (posters and notices)
- Connecticut General Statutes sections 31-57r to 31-57w, as amended by Public Act 23-101
This calculator gives general information about Connecticut's paid sick leave law. It assumes steady weekly hours and a calendar year, and does not cover collective bargaining agreements, employer policies that are more generous, or every exception. For your own situation, contact the Connecticut Department of Labor at (860) 263-6790 or an employment lawyer. This is not legal advice.