There are currently no federal legal requirements for paid sick leave. For companies subject to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Act does require unpaid sick leave. FMLA provides for up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for certain medical situations for either the employee or a member of the employee's immediate family. In many instances paid leave under an employer’s paid time off (PTO) policy may be substituted for unpaid FMLA leave.

Employees are eligible to take FMLA leave if they have worked for their employer for at least 12 months; have worked for at least 1,250 hours over the previous 12 months; and work at a location where at least 50 employees are employed by the employer within 75 miles.

Because federal law does not require sick leave, if an employee quits their job before using all of their sick leave, the employer is not obligated to pay the employee for that time—unless the employer’s policy or state or other law requires the employer to pay the employee for unused sick leave.

Some states, cities, and counties may have laws that require employers to provide employees with paid sick leave.

In Pennsylvania, there is no statewide mandate requiring private employers to provide paid sick leave to their employees, although some local jurisdictions may have their own ordinances. Federally, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires covered employers to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for certain medical situations affecting the employee or their immediate family members. To be eligible for FMLA leave, an employee must have worked for the employer for at least 12 months, accumulated at least 1,250 hours of service in the past 12 months, and work at a location where the employer has at least 50 employees within 75 miles. While FMLA guarantees unpaid leave, it does not require paid leave; however, employees may be able to use accrued paid time off (PTO) in lieu of unpaid leave. If an employee resigns, federal law does not require the employer to compensate the employee for unused sick leave unless the employer's policy or applicable state or local law stipulates otherwise.