The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require employers to provide paid sick leave to their employees, including salaried employees. However, many employers do offer paid sick leave as a benefit to their employees. In such cases, the employer’s policy and any applicable state or local laws will dictate whether or not salaried employees must be paid when they are out sick.

The FLSA distinguishes between two types of employees: exempt and non-exempt. Exempt employees are not eligible for overtime pay, while non-exempt employees are eligible for overtime pay for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Generally, exempt employees are salaried, while non-exempt employees are paid an hourly wage.

Salaried exempt employees are paid a predetermined salary regardless of the number of hours worked. According to the FLSA, exempt employees must receive their full salary for any workweek in which they perform any work, with limited exceptions.

One of these exceptions is for absences of one or more full days for personal reasons, including illness or sickness. In such cases, the employer may deduct from the exempt employee’s salary for the time missed. However, the employer must have a bona fide sick leave plan that provides compensation for the employee’s time missed due to sickness or disability, and the employee must have exhausted all sick leave under the plan before the employer can make a deduction.

Non-exempt employees, whether salaried or hourly, are entitled to overtime pay for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Unlike exempt employees, non-exempt employees are paid for the hours they work. Therefore, if a non-exempt employee misses work due to illness or sickness, the employer is not required to pay the employee for the missed time.

However, if the employer has a sick leave policy that provides compensation for the employee’s time missed due to sickness or disability, then the employer must follow the policy. Additionally, some states and localities have enacted sick leave laws that require employers to provide paid sick leave to their employees. In such cases, the employer must comply with the applicable law.

Even if the FLSA does not require employers to provide paid sick leave, employers can still take steps to support their sick employees. For example, employers can:

In conclusion, the FLSA does not require employers to provide paid sick leave to salaried employees. However, employers may choose to offer paid sick leave as a benefit to their employees. Additionally, if an employer has a sick leave policy that provides compensation for the employee’s time missed due to sickness or disability, then the employer must follow the policy. Employers can also take steps to support sick employees, such as encouraging them to stay home, providing flexible work arrangements, and supporting employee health and wellness.