Santa Monica City Attorney Reminds Employers to Comply with Paid Sick Leave Requirements in City’s Minimum Wage Law

March 12, 2020 11:12 AM

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – The Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office reminds businesses and the public that Santa Monica’s minimum wage law requires employers with 25 or fewer workers to provide a minimum of 40 hours paid sick leave, and employers with 26 or more workers to provide 72 hours paid sick leave.  These requirements exceed statewide minimums. 

On March 4, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and Department of Public Health declared a local and public health emergency in order to ensure effective mobilization of resources, emergency planning, and inter-agency cooperation across Los Angeles County to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19).  All three declarations apply to the City of Santa Monica, which is wholly within Los Angeles County.  

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has urged the public to stay home when sick and has urged employers to encourage staff and volunteers to stay home when they are sick.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has further recommended that employers “ensure that your sick leave policies are flexible and consistent with public health guidance and that employees are aware of these policies.”  

City Attorney Lane Dilg said, “In 2016, Santa Monica employers and workers came together to develop the City’s sick leave law, which ensures a minimum of 40, and up to 72, hours of paid sick leave.  The Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office enforces this law on an ongoing basis; and now, more than ever, we remind local businesses of the need to respect workers’ rights to stay home when sick.”

Santa Monica’s minimum wage law requires paid sick leave for full-time, part-time, and temporary employees. Sick leave requirements are found in Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 4.62.025 ordinance.  Sick leave use follows the California State AB 1522 guidelines.  Local law prohibits retaliation against employees for exercising their right to sick leave and provides workers the right to file civil claims.  Employers violating the law are also subject to administrative and criminal penalties.

If you work in Santa Monica and have questions about your rights or want to file a complaint, contact the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) at (800) 593-8222 or email at wagehelp@dcba.lacounty.gov. Visit the City’s website for more information about the City’s minimum wage law: https://beta.smgov.net/strategic-goals/inclusive-diverse-community/minimum-wage-ordinance

For information about how to contribute to public health measures to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) visit http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/ or https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has recommended that all members of the public:

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Media Contact

Constance Farrell
Communications & Public Information Manager
Constance.Farrell@santamonica.gov

Departments

City Attorney's Office