Do Employers Have to Provide Paid Sick Leave During Inclement Weather in Austin, Texas?

When the freezing weather hits the Austin area, employers are not legally obligated to provide paid sick leave for their non-exempt employees. However, companies can allow their employees to use their available paid time off (PTO) or paid vacation for full or part-time absences due to bad weather. If the company's paid vacation policy allows, they can apply available paid vacation to time lost due to inclement weather. James Quintero, director of Think Local Liberty at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, explains that compulsory paid sick leave isn't required in Texas. Non-exempt salaried employees may accumulate their paid vacation balances, as long as this is consistent with the company's current paid leave policy.

Exempted salaried employees can have their balance of available paid vacation reduced in any increase in time due to such absences, in accordance with the company's paid vacation policy. If an employee gets sick from the coronavirus and doesn't have paid sick leave, the Texas workforce can help. Employers should be aware of the laws and regulations regarding paid sick leave in their state and should make sure they are following them. In Austin, Texas, employers are not legally obligated to provide paid sick leave for their non-exempt employees during inclement weather. However, companies may choose to allow their employees to use their available PTO or paid vacation for full or part-time absences due to bad weather. It is important for employers to be aware of the laws and regulations regarding paid sick leave in their state and ensure they are following them. If an employee needs to take time off due to inclement weather, employers should review their current paid leave policy and determine if they can apply available paid vacation to time lost due to bad weather.

Exempted salaried employees may have their balance of available paid vacation reduced in any increase in time due to such absences. The Texas Public Policy Foundation's Think Local Liberty director James Quintero emphasizes that compulsory paid sick leave isn't required in Texas. If an employee gets sick from the coronavirus and doesn't have paid sick leave, the Texas workforce can help.