NC S635

Requires all North Carolina employers to provide paid sick time accruing at 1 hour per 30 hours worked, with annual caps of 32 hours for small businesses (10 or fewer employees) and 56 hours for larger employers

Employees may use paid sick time for their own illness or medical appointments, to care for immediate family members, or to address circumstances related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking

Employers may only require medical certification for absences exceeding 3 consecutive workdays and cannot require employees to find replacement coverage as a condition of using sick time

Prohibits retaliation against employees who request or use paid sick time, with enforcement by the Commissioner of Labor and remedies including unpaid sick time, interest, liquidated damages, and attorney's fees

Becomes effective January 1, 2026, with delayed implementation for employees covered by existing collective bargaining agreements until those agreements expire or are modified