Vermont becomes fifth state to require paid sick leave

MONTPELIER, Vt. – Vermont has become the fifth state to require employers to provide paid sick leave to workers.

Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin signed the bill Wednesday.

Supporters say about 60,000 Vermont workers do not have paid sick time.

The law requires employers to provide a minimum of three paid days off a year for employees to use when they are sick or to care for a child or family member. Employers with more than five employees must provide the benefit next year while those with five or fewer have until 2018.

The mandatory amount increases to five days in 2019.

Supporters say more than 20 cities, the states of California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Oregon and the District of Columbia have mandatory paid sick leave.