Holiday Pay, PTO, Vacation Pay, Sick Pay and a Partridge in a Pear tree
If you are planning on going over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house for your next holiday season you will likely need to request time off from work. Or maybe you are staying home and continuing to work on the holidays. And let’s not forget, this is that wonderful time of year when people share their colds and need a few days off work to recover.
Holiday Pay
If you are working on an actual holiday, California law does not require that you are paid any more money than you would normally be paid. However, there are large numbers of companies that have policies whereby if you are working on a holiday you might be entitled to additional pay. Check your employee handbook or with your HR department for your company policy before you volunteer for these shifts.
Paid Holiday Days Off
Again, California does not require that employees receive a day off work on a holiday, or that if that day is given it must be paid. But it is fairly common that companies give these days off and pay their employees a day’s wage.
PTO or Vacation Pay
In California you cannot be forced to use your PTO or vacation pay, and you cannot lose it. Also, it’s important to note that the employer does not have to grant you the days off that you have requested. This means that PTO or vacation pay must be cashed out if the employee requests such.
Sick Pay
Cold and flu season are a normal part of the holiday season as well. California law does not require companies to give paid days off for sick days. If your company does give you paid days for sick time, it’s important to note that it is nothing like PTO or vacation time; you can lose your sick time if it goes unused and it is not required to be cashed out to you upon request. When you leave the company you are not entitled to this time or pay.
Labor law is complex; if you have any questions regarding your employment it is recommended that you contact a California labor law attorney who can help you understand your rights and in many cases will review your situation without charge.
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