H.R. 7531: Healthy Families Act

H.R. 7531 creates a national minimum for paid sick leave. Workers would earn one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to 56 hours — roughly seven eight-hour days — per year. Unused hours carry over, but the annual cap stays put.

The leave isn't only for the flu. Workers could use it for their own illness, doctor visits, or caring for a sick child or partner. It would also cover medical care, counseling, court appearances, and relocation tied to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking — for the worker or a covered family member.

Coverage is wide. Any business that employs at least one worker for 20 weeks of the year would fall under the bill. So would federal workers, congressional staff, Government Accountability Office and Library of Congress employees, and rail workers — groups often left out of federal labor protections.

Workers could start using earned time on day 60. For absences over three consecutive workdays, employers could ask for a doctor's note (or, for domestic violence cases, a police report or letter from a victim services worker). Employers who retaliate or count sick time under no-fault attendance policies face lawsuits for lost wages, interest, liquidated damages, and attorneys' fees. Failing to post the required notice carries a $100 civil fine per offense.

Politically, the path is steep. All 146 cosponsors are Democrats. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) has introduced versions of this bill repeatedly since 2004. Business groups have argued federal mandates raise compliance costs, especially for smaller employers — and the Republican-controlled committees the bill was sent to are unlikely to schedule a markup.