Texas A&M University Jun 13 2025 Earned sick leave-short-term, paid time off for employees who are sick or injured or must care for sick or injured family members-has been found to reduce the spread of infectious diseases in the workplace and increase employee access to preventive care. Since 2019, seven states have implemented laws requiring employers to offer earned sick leave, bringing the total to 18 (plus Washington, D.C.). Despite this growth, however, little has been known until now