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The Trust Project

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(Provided by Gigafact)

No.

Employers in Colorado may request “reasonable documentation” for sick leave only if an employee takes off four or more consecutive days.

Policies that require doctor’s notes for absences less than four days, or that require them before granting sick leave, violate the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act. The law grants all employees — part time and full time — one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to 48 hours per year. Sick leave must be paid at the same rate as working hours. 

Sick leave can be used for health reasons, such as illness, injury or caring for a family member, and safety reasons, including a public health emergency, domestic abuse or unexpected events like wildfires that force employees from their homes.   

Documentation for absences of four or more consecutive days only needs to show the leave is for a valid reason under the law.

See full source list below.

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References:

Interpretive Notice & Formal Opinion (“INFO”) #6B: Paid Sick Leave under the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, May 29, 2024. Source link.

Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act. § 8-13.3-401 et seq., C.R.S., Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Aug. 7, 2023. Source link.

Know Your Rights: Colorado Paid Sick Time, A Better Life, Nov. 6, 2024. Source link.

Type of Story: Fact-Check

Checks a specific statement or set of statements asserted as fact.

Por recently graduated from CU Boulder with a master’s degree in journalism and is interested in writing about the environment and exploring local stories. When not working on some form of writing, Por is either looking for Thai food or petting...