A law enacted several years ago permits employees to use up to one-half of their accrued sick leave to attend to the illness of a child, parent, spouse or domestic partner. Now new legislation, S.B. 1471, signed by Gov. Davis, makes it illegal for an absence control policy to count sick leave taken under the existing law as a basis for discipline, discharge, demotion or suspension. The new law takes effect Jan. 1, 2003.
Review your handbooks and workplace policies to make sure your attendance policies don’t penalize employees for such sick leave.