This is a law that became effective in Maryland in February of 2018. The law states that employers with 15 or more employees must provide for up to 40 hours of paid sick leave, per year, for eligible employees. Employees are eligible if they are over 18 years of age and work more than 12 hours per week. However, for employers that have 14 or fewer employees, the requirement is that they still provide for up to 40 hours per year of sick leave, but it can be unpaid sick leave. Keep in mind that this act generally only covers regular employees of a company as opposed to independent contractors or workers who operate on an “as needed” basis. But, for qualifying employees, this can be a source of great relief, as they can use this time either for their own physical or mental wellness or for the health concerns of a family member. Of course, included in this plan is any maternity or paternity leave. But what you may not expect is that it also covers leave that may need to be taken after a domestic violence incident or a sexual assault on the employee or one of their family members. Violations of this law can result in the imposition of up to treble damages.