MT HB297

Employers with 10 or more employees must provide paid sick leave, with employees earning 1 hour of leave for every 40 hours worked, up to a maximum of 80 hours per year

Leave may be used for the employee's own illness, medical appointments, or preventive care; caring for a sick family member; or addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, or harassment situations

Up to 40 hours of unused paid sick leave carries forward to the following year, though employers are not required to pay out unused leave upon separation from employment

Employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees who use or request paid sick leave, with violations enforced by the Department of Labor and Industry as wage claims

Employers with existing paid leave policies meeting the same accrual rates and permitted uses satisfy the requirements; collective bargaining agreements providing equivalent or more generous leave are also exempt