Living in Texas has plenty of perks, delicious barbeque, football, and some beautiful open spaces. But when it comes to stuff like paid sick leave, things aren’t as cut and dry as you might think. Do companies in Texas have to give you paid sick days when you’re under the weather?

I found a great resource handbook through the Texas Workforce Commission. Here’s the lowdown: Texas doesn’t have a law that forces companies to offer paid sick leave.  Some cities like Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas have tried to make local rules for paid sick leave, but legal challenges stopped them. Basically, Texas leaves it up to each company to decide if they want to give sick pay.

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LOOK: KNOW THE UGLY TRUTH ABOUT PAID SICK LEAVE IN TEXAS

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So, what does that mean for you and me? Whether you get paid when you’re sick depends on your company’s policy. On the flip side, some businesses do offer paid sick days because they know healthy workers are happier (and don’t spread germs around the office). But others? Not so much.

And if you don’t have paid sick leave? Well, that can be a rough situation. You might have to decide between staying home to recover and losing a day’s pay or going to work sick, which isn’t great for anyone. It’s not exactly a win-win situation.

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The best thing to do is find out your company’s sick leave policy ahead of time. That way there aren’t any surprises when you need it. Plus, even though Texas doesn’t require paid sick leave, having a conversation with your boss about the benefits couldn’t hurt. After all, nobody wants a sick workplace.

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