SB16-114: Healthy Families and Workplaces Act

• Creates mandatory paid sick leave requirement for all private employers in Colorado, accruing at one hour per 30 hours worked, with caps of 72 hours annually for employers with 10+ employees and 40 hours annually for employers with fewer than 10 employees.

• Employees may use accrued paid sick leave for personal or family member illness/medical care, preventive care, domestic abuse/sexual assault/harassment-related absences, and absences due to public health emergency closures of schools or workplaces.

• Employees begin accruing paid sick leave upon employment start, may use leave as it accrues, and may carry forward unused balance to subsequent years subject to annual caps; employers are not required to pay out unused leave upon separation unless employee is rehired within 12 months.

• Prohibits employer retaliation against employees who use paid sick leave or exercise rights under the act; creates rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation if adverse action occurs within 90 days of leave use or filing a complaint.

• Employers must provide written notice and display posters in employee languages, maintain five-year records of hours worked and leave accrued/used, and keep employee health and abuse information confidential; employers with comparable paid leave policies or state/local government equivalent benefits may satisfy requirements without additional sick leave.