Navigating California’s Updated Sick Time Policy with Ease
Jordan Wallach, Belfry Software, CALSAGA Associate Member
Managing paid sick leave in the security industry can be complex. Staying up-to-date on state laws is critical to maintain smooth operations for your California security business.
As of January 1, 2024, California law mandates that employers provide at least 40 hours, or five days, of paid sick leave per year. This applies to full-time, part-time, and temporary workers who:
- Work for the same employer for at least 30 days within a year
- Complete a 90-day employment period before taking any paid sick leave
Common reasons for paid sick leave include recovery from physical/mental illness or injury, seeking medical diagnosis, treatment, or preventative care, and caring for an ill family member.
The new policy is an increase from the previous required paid sick leave of 24 hours or three days. This change requires security companies to adjust their systems to ensure operations aren’t disrupted while complying with the new requirements.
Security firms typically handle numerous contracts, each varying in pay rates, schedules, and qualifications, making sick leave management an added challenge. Typically, companies use multiple systems for scheduling, time tracking, and payroll, leading to manual data transfers that increase the risk of errors and consume significant time. This manual process not only makes compliance more challenging, but also affects employee satisfaction and can lead to higher turnover.
An integrated system would be immensely helpful. By streamlining processes, companies can eliminate unnecessary steps in managing time off and reduce human error.
Belfry’s all-in-one software platform addresses these challenges by integrating scheduling, time tracking, and payroll, simplifying the management of new sick leave requirements – including the granular requirements around accruals and waiting periods.
Employees can request time off through Belfry’s user-friendly interface, and managers can approve these requests and adjust schedules accordingly. Automated time tracking ensures accurate recording of hours worked and sick leave taken, reducing administrative burden and minimizing errors.
Just because the updated California sick leave policy adds complexity for security firms doesn’t mean you have to add extra complexity to your operations. Belfry’s comprehensive platform enables businesses to navigate these changes smoothly — ensuring compliance, reducing errors, and enhancing overall efficiency.
Jordan Wallach is the Co-Founder and CEO of Belfry, the modern operating system for security guard services companies and a CALSAGA Member. Prior to founding Belfry, Jordan was a consultant at McKinsey & Company and a Product Manager at Microsoft, building software used by millions of people worldwide. He has a bachelor’s degree in Data Science from Stanford University.