Memphis cannot require paid sick leave or paid family leave from private employers. Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-1-304 expressly preempts local rules on leave, fringe benefits, and employment terms. Tennessee has no state paid-leave program. Federal FMLA (12 weeks unpaid) is the only floor.
Tennessee Code Ann. § 50-1-304 was enacted in 2013 and broadened in 2016 to preempt 'local government regulation' of wages, leave from employment, fringe benefits, work-hours, scheduling, and other employment terms applicable to private employers. Combined with the wage preemption in § 7-51-1802, these provisions block Memphis from mandating paid sick leave, paid family leave, or similar benefits. Tennessee has no statewide paid sick, family, or medical leave program. Memphis provides paid leave to its own municipal workforce under City civil service rules but cannot extend a mandate to private employers. Federal FMLA (29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.) provides 12 weeks of unpaid leave at employers with 50+ employees within 75 miles.
No local penalties because no local mandate exists. FMLA violations enforced by U.S. DOL Wage & Hour under 29 U.S.C. § 2617. Employer PTO policies enforceable as wage contracts under Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-2-103.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Memphis, TN
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Memphis, TN
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Memphis, TN
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Memphis, TN
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Memphis, TN
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Memphis, TN
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