Many businesses offer paid sick days to stay competitive, but few laws actually require them to do so. Seattle joined the slim ranks by passing a law requiring businesses more than two years old with at least five employees to provide at least five days of sick leave per year. The city joins San Francisco and Washington, D.C. as the only municipalities in the country to require the benefit. The state of Connecticut also mandates paid sick leave.

A city council member gives the money quote to The Seattle Times: “It’s wrong that someone has to choose between going to work sick or losing pay.”

Under the Seattle law, employees have the right to give up the sick leave requirement through collective bargaining.

Seattle approves paid sick-leave requirement [The Seattle Times]

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