California lawmakers approve paid sick leave for COVID-19

California’s legislature has passed a bill allowing many employees in the state to have two weeks of paid sick leave for COVID-19.

The legislation, approved Monday, will allow employees at businesses with 26 or more workers to take paid time off to recover from COVID-19 or take care of family members who are infected, the Los Angeles Times reported. 

The policy will also let employees attend their vaccination appointment and recover from being vaccinated or take care of children who are unable to attend school due to virus-related closures or quarantines.

Companies can require employees to submit proof of a positive test to qualify for additional time off, according to the L.A. Times. The measure limits employees to three days, or 24 total work hours, for vaccine appointments or recovery from side effects.

In a statement, California Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jennifer Barrera said that employers will do their part to protect their employees, the Times reported. 

“California employers continue to do their part to keep employees and the public safe during this pandemic,” Barrera said. “The COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave is another example of this, where employers will take on an additional burden to provide leave, but do so in order to protect the broader public.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is expected to sign the approved legislation later this week, the Times noted.

Lawmakers approved the measure along with several other bills. The state legislature also allocated an additional $1.9 billion to address testing, vaccinations, hospital surges and other COVID-19-related needs.