Expansion of CO Sick Leave to take effect August 7th

Governor Jared Polis signed into law Senate Bill 23-017 on June 2, 2023, expanding the reasons employees can use paid sick leave under Colorado’s Healthy Families & Workplaces Act (HFWA).

Current Mandate

Under HFWA, Colorado employees accrue a minimum of one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked, accessible for the following reasons:

• A mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition that prevents work;
• Obtaining preventive medical care (including a vaccination), diagnosis, care, or treatment of any mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition;
• Obtaining medical attention, mental health care, counseling, legal or victim services, or relocation required as a result of being a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or criminal harassment;
• Caring for a family member with a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition, or who needs care listed in the above categories;
• Closure of the employee’s place of business or their child’s school/place of care due to a public health emergency, requiring the employee to care for the child.

Expanded Reasons (Effective August 7)

Employees may also use accrued sick leave for:

• Grieving, attending funeral services or memorials, or handling financial and legal matters after the death of a family member;
• Caring for a family member whose school or place of care is closed due to inclement weather, loss of power, heating, or water, or other unexpected events;
• Evacuating their place of residence due to inclement weather, loss of power, heating, or water, or other unexpected events.

InTANDEM HR will update all client Employee Handbooks to comply with this law and will revise the PHEW poster once available from the state of Colorado. Clients or employees with questions should contact their HR Generalist or the HR Director at InTANDEM HR.