Paid Leave Preemption: Mesa vs Phoenix
How do paid leave preemption rules compare between Mesa, AZ and Phoenix, AZ?
Mesa has fewer restrictions than Phoenix.
Mesa, AZ
Maricopa County
Mesa cannot mandate paid leave beyond Arizona's statewide standard. Prop 206 grants paid sick leave at 1 hour per 30 worked, capped at 40 hours yearly for employers under 15 workers and 40 hours for larger ones. ARS Section 23-204 preempts richer local benefits.
View full Mesa rules →Phoenix, AZ
Maricopa County
Unlike most preemption-state cities, Phoenix workers DO get state-mandated paid sick time under Arizona's Prop 206 (Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act, Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 23-371 et seq.). All Arizona employers must provide 1 hour of paid sick leave per 30 hours worked, with annual caps of 24 hours (small employers <15) or 40 hours (large employers 15+). Phoenix has no separate local mandate.
View full Phoenix rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Mesa | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Accrual | 1 hour per 30 worked | - |
| Large employer cap | 40 hours yearly | - |
| Small employer cap | 24 hours yearly | - |
| Preemption | ARS 23-204 | - |
| State Paid Sick Leave | - | Yes — Prop 206 / ARS § 23-371 |
| Accrual Rate | - | 1 hr per 30 worked |
| Cap (small employer <15) | - | 24 hours/year |
| Cap (large employer 15+) | - | 40 hours/year |
| Federal Floor | - | FMLA — 12 wks unpaid (50+ employer) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Mesa FAQ
Can Mesa require more paid leave than Arizona?
No. ARS Section 23-204 preempts cities from setting richer paid leave standards. Mesa workers receive only Prop 206 statewide accruals unless their individual employer offers more voluntarily.
How much sick time do Mesa employees earn?
Workers accrue 1 hour of paid sick time per 30 hours worked, capped at 40 hours per year at companies with 15 plus employees and 24 hours at smaller Arizona businesses.
Phoenix FAQ
Do Phoenix workers get paid sick leave?
Yes — but under Arizona state law (Prop 206), not city ordinance. All Arizona employers must provide 1 hour of paid sick leave per 30 hours worked, capped at 24 (small) or 40 (large) hours per year.
Can Phoenix require more generous paid sick leave?
No. Arizona's Prop 206 framework preempts local paid-sick-leave ordinances. The state cap (24 or 40 hours/year) is the maximum mandate.
Does Arizona have paid family leave?
No — Arizona has paid sick leave (Prop 206) but no statewide paid family or medical leave program. Federal FMLA's 12 weeks of unpaid leave applies at firms with 50+ employees.
Compare other topics
See how Mesa and Phoenix compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool