California · Paid Sick Leave
California paid sick leave accrual calculator for the 1-per-30 schedule.
California employers using an accrual policy must generally let employees earn at least 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. This calculator applies that schedule, the optional cap on total accrued leave, and the yearly use floor, using the Labor Commissioner’s published FAQ.
Short answer: sick leave accrued = hours worked divided by 30. An employer may cap total accrued leave at 80 hours or 10 days, whichever is more, and may limit use to 40 hours or 5 days per year.
Accrual calculator
Enter hours worked and your current balance. The page applies the 1 hour per 30 hours worked accrual schedule described by the Labor Commissioner’s Office. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Check the official FAQ
The rules this calculator uses
Per the Labor Commissioner’s FAQ (updated December 31, 2025):
- Starting January 1, 2024, employers must generally allow at least 40 hours or five days of paid sick leave per year, whichever is more. A worker on 10-hour days is entitled to use at least 50 hours.
- Under an accrual policy, employees must earn at least 1 hour for each 30 hours worked (the 1:30 schedule). Other accrual schedules are allowed if they give 24 hours by the 120th calendar day and 40 hours by the 200th.
- The employer may limit use to 40 hours or five days a year and may cap total accrued leave at 80 hours or ten days, whichever is more.
- Employees qualify after 30 days of work within a year and a 90-day employment period before taking leave.
- Unused accrued leave must be restored if the worker returns to the same employer within 12 months.
Worked example
520 hours worked gives 520 ÷ 30 = 17.33 hours. With a 12-hour balance that is 29.33 hours, below the 80-hour cap.
Limits
The page does not model up-front policies, paid time off plans, local ordinances that give more, or exempt employees. Where a local ordinance is more generous the employer must follow it, per the FAQ. This is general information, not legal advice.
Official sources used
- www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/paid_sick_leave.htm (read November 2, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much paid sick leave do California employees accrue?
Under a typical accrual policy, at least 1 hour for every 30 hours worked.
Can an employer cap accrued sick leave?
Yes. The FAQ says an employer may cap total accrual at 80 hours or 10 days, whichever is more.
How much can an employee use per year?
At least 40 hours or five days, whichever is more; the employer may limit yearly use to that amount.
Is this legal advice?
No. It applies the published schedule; contact the Labor Commissioner for your situation.
Guide only — not a verification tool
This page describes official registers and links to them. It does not check anyone’s licence status, does not copy or proxy any register, and nothing you might type here is transmitted anywhere. Registers change and licensing rules differ by state and city; use the official source linked above and contact the regulator to confirm anything that matters. This is general information, not legal advice.