NC H422

Establishes the "Healthy Families and Healthy Workplaces Act" requiring all North Carolina employers to provide earned paid sick days to employees, with exemptions for volunteers and certain wage/hour exempt workers.

Employees accrue paid sick time at one hour per 30 hours worked, with annual caps of 32 hours for small businesses (10 or fewer employees) and 56 hours for other employers; accrued time carries over year to year.

Paid sick time may be used for employee's own illness, family member care, routine medical appointments, and absences related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking to obtain medical attention, services, counseling, relocation, or legal services.

Employers may require certification for absences exceeding three consecutive workdays but cannot require disclosure of details about domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and cannot delay or deny pay pending certification receipt.

Violations are enforced by the Commissioner of Labor with penalties including unpaid sick time wages plus interest, liquidated damages equal to wages owed, and potential attorney's fees; employees may file civil actions within two years; law becomes effective July 1, 2019.