Is PTO required by law?

**Federal Law:** There is no federal law requiring private employers to provide any paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, or holidays. **State Sick Leave Laws:** However, 15+ states plus DC mandate paid sick leave: - Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Washington DC **State PTO Payout Laws:** Several states require employers to pay out accrued PTO at termination: - California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota **Local Laws:** Many cities have their own requirements that may exceed state law, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, New York City, and Chicago. While PTO itself is not required, offering competitive PTO is essential for attracting and retaining talent in most industries.