Currently, a number of cities around the nation have ordinances requiring at least some paid sick leave. The state laws and city ordinances vary somewhat, but are designed to provide workers with paid time off due to illness for themselves, their dependent children or parents.
In general, they allow employees to accrue paid sick time after a probationary period, and smaller businesses are typically granted exemptions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 40% of private employees have no access to paid sick leave, with service-industry, part-time and lower-paid workers significantly worse off than their public-sector counterparts.