Colorado’s Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA) ensures that most employees in the state earn paid sick leave that can be used for a variety of health and safety-related reasons. This law helps workers stay financially secure when they need time off for their own health or to care for others.
How HFWA Leave Works
Under the HFWA, employees begin accruing paid leave immediately, typically 1 hour of leave for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum of 48 hours per year. Employers may allow employees to use leave in smaller increments (like 15 minutes), depending on their policy.
Employees can usually carry over up to 48 hours of unused leave into the next year, though they may still be limited to using only 48 hours in a single year.
What Employees Can Use HFWA Time For
The HFWA lets employees use their accrued paid leave for several purposes related to health, safety, and family care. These include:
1. Personal Health Needs
Use leave if you:
- Have a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition that prevents you from working.
- Need a medical diagnosis, care, or treatment.
- Are you seeking preventive medical care like routine checkups or screenings?
2. Caring for Family Members
You can use HFWA leave to care for a family member with a health condition, such as:
- Taking them to medical appointments.
- Helping them recover from an illness.
- Providing preventive care or treatment support.
“Family member” is broadly defined and generally includes relatives related by blood, marriage, adoption, or civil union, as well as people you are responsible for caring for.
3. Public Health and Safety Situations
You may use leave if:
- A public health emergency causes your workplace, child’s school, or childcare provider to close and you must stay home to care for yourself or a family member.
4. Safe Time After Abuse or Harassment
HFWA also allows leave if you or a family member is the victim of:
- Domestic abuse
- Sexual assault
- Harassment
You can use accrued leave to obtain medical, counseling, legal, or related services, or to relocate if needed.
Additional Uses Under Recent Updates
Colorado has expanded acceptable reasons under the HFWA to include:
- Grieving, attending funerals, or handling legal/financial matters after the death of a family member.
- Caring for a family member when their school or care provider closes due to weather, utility outages, or other emergency events.
- Evacuating your residence due to unexpected, dangerous conditions.
Important Notes for Employees
- Employers must pay leave at your normal rate of pay and maintain benefits while you are on HFWA leave.
- You typically don’t need to provide detailed health information to your employer, only enough to support your need for leave. Limits apply to how and when documentation can be requested.
- HFWA leave is different from vacation or PTO, but many employers combine these benefits as long as they meet minimum HFWA requirements.
Make Sure You Know Your Rights and Time Options
Colorado’s HFWA gives employees important flexibility to take paid time off when they truly need it, for health, family care, safety situations, and more. If you’re unsure how much leave you’ve accrued or how to request it, check with your HR department or payroll system.
Need Help Navigating Leave Laws?
Understanding your leave rights can be confusing; that’s where LeaveAssist can help.
👉 Contact LeaveAssist today for expert guidance on Colorado’s Healthy Families and Workplaces Act and how to make the most of your paid leave benefits.