Alaska Paid Leave Laws: Sick Leave, Family Leave & FMLA (2026)

Does Alaska have paid sick leave?

Yes. Alaska’s paid sick leave law, enacted through Ballot Measure 1 and codified at AS 23.10.066–23.10.069, took effect July 1, 2025. All employers with at least one employee in Alaska must provide paid sick leave. Employees accrue 1 hour per 30 hours worked, up to 56 hours per year (large employers) or 40 hours per year (small employers with fewer than 15 FTEs). (Alaska DOLWD — Sick Leave FAQ)

How many sick days are required in Alaska?

Employees accrue 1 hour of paid sick leave per 30 hours worked. Employers with 15 or more FTE employees must allow up to 56 hours (7 eight-hour days) per year. Employers with fewer than 15 FTE employees must allow up to 40 hours (5 eight-hour days) per year. (Alaska DOLWD — Sick Leave FAQ)

Does Alaska sick leave apply to part-time employees?

Yes. Part-time employees must receive paid sick leave under AS 23.10.066. They accrue at the same rate — 1 hour per 30 hours worked — as full-time employees. (Alaska DOLWD — Sick Leave FAQ)

Can paid sick leave in Alaska be used for a family member’s illness?

Yes. Alaska’s paid sick leave law covers use for a family member’s physical or mental illness, injury, health condition, diagnosis, care, or preventative care. The definition of family member is broad and includes children, parents, spouses, domestic partners, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and any individual whose close association is the equivalent of a family relationship. (Alaska DOLWD — Wage and Hour Pamphlet 100)

Does unused sick leave carry over in Alaska?

Yes. Unused paid sick leave must carry over from year to year for active employees. There is no cap on the total balance an employee may accumulate, though annual usage remains capped at 56 or 40 hours depending on employer size. An exception applies when an employer front-loads the full annual allotment at the start of the year — in that case, unused leave need not carry over. (Alaska DOLWD — Sick Leave FAQ)

How does FMLA work in Alaska?

FMLA in Alaska provides eligible employees at covered employers (50+ employees within 75 miles) up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for qualifying family and medical reasons, including birth or adoption of a child, care for a family member with a serious health condition, and the employee’s own serious health condition. Employees must have 12 months of employment and 1,250 hours worked in the prior year. (U.S. Department of Labor — FMLA)

How long is maternity leave in Alaska?

At FMLA-covered private employers, eligible employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks unpaid under FMLA. At public employers with 21 or more employees, eligible employees receive up to 18 weeks unpaid under AFLA. Accrued paid sick leave may be used during the period of pregnancy-related medical disability. Alaska does not have a state-funded paid maternity benefit. (Alaska DOLWD — Wage and Hour Division; U.S. Department of Labor — FMLA)

Is maternity leave paid in Alaska?

Maternity leave under FMLA and AFLA is unpaid. Alaska has no state paid family leave program or TDI program. During the period of pregnancy-related disability, employees may use accrued paid sick leave under AS 23.10.066 to receive compensation. Additional sources of income during maternity leave include employer-provided short-term disability coverage and accrued PTO. (Alaska DOLWD — Sick Leave FAQ)

Does FMLA apply to small businesses in Alaska?

Federal FMLA does not apply to private employers with fewer than 50 employees within a 75-mile radius. AFLA does not apply to most private employers either. However, Alaska’s paid sick leave law applies to all employers with at least one employee, so small businesses must still provide accrued paid sick leave regardless of FMLA or AFLA coverage. (Alaska DOLWD — Sick Leave FAQ)

What is the Alaska Family Leave Act (AFLA)?

The AFLA is a state law that applies to public employers with 21 or more employees. It provides eligible employees up to 18 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave — 6 more weeks than federal FMLA — for pregnancy, childbirth, or adoption (18 weeks in a 12-month period) and for serious health conditions of the employee or a family member (18 weeks in a 24-month period). Eligibility requires working at least 35 hours per week for six consecutive months, or 17.5 hours per week for 12 consecutive months. AFLA is enforced by the Alaska DOLWD Wage and Hour Division. (Alaska DOLWD — Wage and Hour Division)

Is FMLA leave paid in Alaska?

FMLA leave is unpaid in Alaska. There is no state-funded PFML program to supplement FMLA with wage replacement. Employees may substitute accrued paid leave, including accrued sick leave, vacation, or PTO, during FMLA leave if employer policy permits or requires it. (U.S. Department of Labor — FMLA)

Can an employer deny paid sick leave in Alaska?

Under AS 23.10.068, employers may not interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise of the right to paid sick leave. Employers cannot require employees to find a replacement as a condition of using sick leave. If an employee fails to follow the employer’s established notice procedures for foreseeable leave, the employer may deny leave or take disciplinary action, but no adverse action is permitted for the exercise of the right itself. (Alaska DOLWD — Sick Leave FAQ)

What is the Alaska sick leave accrual rate?

The accrual rate is 1 hour of paid sick leave per 30 hours worked. Accrual begins July 1, 2025, or on the employee’s first day of work, whichever is later. Only actual hours worked count toward accrual; holidays, vacation, and other non-working paid time do not. (Alaska DOLWD — Sick Leave FAQ)

How long is paternity leave in Alaska?

Paternity leave at FMLA-covered private employers is up to 12 weeks unpaid under federal FMLA. At public employers covered by AFLA (21+ employees), eligible fathers and non-birthing parents receive up to 18 weeks unpaid. FMLA bonding leave is gender-neutral and applies equally to all parents. Alaska does not require private employers to provide paid paternity leave. (U.S. Department of Labor — FMLA)

Does Alaska have paid family leave?

Alaska does not have a mandatory state-funded paid family and medical leave program. Workers rely on federal FMLA and AFLA (for public-sector employees) for unpaid, job-protected family leave. The new paid sick leave law (AS 23.10.066) provides paid leave for shorter health-related absences but is not a substitute for a comprehensive paid family leave program. (Alaska DOLWD — Ballot Measure 1 FAQ)

What happens to unused sick leave if an employee leaves their job in Alaska?

Employers are not required to pay out accrued, unused sick leave upon separation. Employees may voluntarily request a cash-out of accrued leave at termination, but employers cannot mandate payout. If a terminated employee is rehired within six months, all previously accrued and unused sick leave must be immediately reinstated. (Alaska DOLWD — Sick Leave FAQ)

Is there a waiting period before using paid sick leave in Alaska?

No. Employees may use accrued sick leave as it is earned — there is no waiting period before use. Accrual begins on July 1, 2025, or on the first day of employment, whichever is later. (Alaska DOLWD — Sick Leave FAQ)