This Law Firm Publication by Fisher & Phillips LLP addresses the passage of an earned sick leave law in Massachusetts. On November 4, 2014, Massachusetts passed a ballot measure that requires employers with ten or more employees to allow all employees who work in the state to accrue up to 40 hours of paid sick leave per year. Employers with fewer than ten employees are required to allow employees to accrue up to 40 hours of unpaid sick leave. Employees can earn one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked. While employees can carry over up to 40 hours of sick leave to the next calendar year, employers are not required to pay employees for unused sick time when their employment ends. Sick leave can be used for illness, injury or routine medical appointments for the employee and his spouse, child, parent or spouse's parent, as well as to address domestic violence issues. Employers may not interfere with or retaliate against an employee's request for or use of sick leave. This law takes effect on July 1, 2015.