All California Workers Now Eligible For Sick Pay

Starting July 1, about 6.5 million Californians become eligible for paid sick leave.

Amy McMullen runs Karma Collars in Sacramento. She and four part-time employees design elaborate dog collars. The margins are tight, so McMullen hasn't offered paid sick leave in the past, but she's happy the law is pushing her to do it now.

"It's kind of like someone making you start a savings account, or like making you go to the dentist," says McMullen. "You're like I don't want to pay for this, but you do it and you feel better in the end. It's OK. We will survive. I mean, if I have to increase our prices, we'll increase our prices."

Employers have two choices. They can either grant employees three days of paid sick leave up front. Or, have workers accrue one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. All businesses, regardless of their size, are required to provide the benefit.

The Healthy Workplace Healthy Family Act of 2014 was authored by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego. The California Chamber of Commerce has published information to help employers implement the legislation.