Arizona has laws pertaining to employee leave and time off. Employers and employees in Arizona must remain aware of those regulations and maintain compliance. Here are some essential elements of leave and time off time in Arizona:

Paid Sick Leave

Employers must offer qualified workers paid sick leave by Arizona law. Employees may accumulate paid sick leave at the rate of one hour for every thirty hours worked. Here are the numbers according to the Arizona Paid Sick Time Law:

• For employers with less than 15 employees, it is up to a maximum of 40 hours annually.
• For employers with 15 or more employees, it is 24 hours annually.

Workers may take this time off for several reasons, such as:

• Taking care of a family member
• Taking care of themselves if they become ill or are injured

Vacation Leave

Arizona law does not require employers to provide paid vacation leave. However, numerous employers still include it in their benefits package. The employment contract or company policy should outline the terms of vacation leave, including accrual rates and usage guidelines.

Holidays

Employers in Arizona are not required by state law to provide paid or specific holidays. Every employer has their own holiday policies. This should be in your employment agreement or company policies.

Family and Medical Leave

Under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or the Arizona Family and Medical Leave Act (AFMLA), employees in Arizona may be entitled to job-protected leave. For qualifying employees, the federal FMLA offers up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for specific family or medical reasons. Similar safeguards are provided by AFMLA, which covers a wider range of companies.

Military Leave

Employees who are called upon for active service as members of the National Guard or Reserves are entitled to job-protected leave under federal as well as state laws. When an employee returns from military duty, employers are usually obliged to put them back in their original jobs.

Jury Duty Leave

Employers in Arizona must provide unpaid leave for employees serving on a jury. It is illegal to discriminate against employees for serving on a jury or for requesting time off for this purpose.

Bereavement Leave

There are no regulations in Arizona that specifically mandate that employers offer paid or unpaid bereavement leave. The availability of bereavement leave as well as its conditions may differ between employers.

Domestic Violence Leave

The following victims needing time-off have job-protected leave under Arizona Law to address related legal or medical matters:

• Domestic violence
• Sexual abuse/assault
• Stalking

Employers in Arizona should additionally be aware of any applicable federal employment laws, such as:

• The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Other federal laws governing employee leave and accommodations

It’s important for Arizona Employees to get familiar with their employment contracts, company policies, and state and federal laws to gain an understanding of their time off and leave rights. Employers and employees should effectively communicate regarding leave requests and accommodations to reach a win-win resolution.