Doctor's-Note & Sick-Leave Laws in Arizona

Arizona has a statewide earned-paid-sick-time law, enacted by voters as Proposition 206 (the Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act) and effective since July 2017. Most employees accrue paid sick time they can use for illness or to care for family. The law limits documentation: an employer may request reasonable proof only for absences of three or more consecutive workdays, and may not require that the proof reveal the medical condition.

How sick leave works in Arizona

Arizona has a statewide earned-paid-sick-time law. Voters enacted it as Proposition 206, the Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act, and its paid-sick-time provisions have been in effect since July 1, 2017 (codified at A.R.S. §§ 23-371 to 23-381). Most employees accrue one hour of earned paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. Annual use is generally capped at 24 hours for employers with fewer than 15 employees and 40 hours for employers with 15 or more, unless the employer chooses a higher limit. The time can be used for the employee’s own illness or to care for a family member.

When a doctor’s note can be required

Arizona’s law sets a clear documentation threshold. Under A.R.S. § 23-373, “for earned paid sick time of three or more consecutive work days, an employer may require reasonable documentation that the earned paid sick time has been used for an authorized purpose.” For absences shorter than three consecutive workdays, an employer may not require a note for protected sick-time use. The statute also provides that an employer may not require that the documentation explain the nature of the health condition. A verifiable note from a licensed physician confirming the dates — without disclosing a diagnosis — fits these requirements.

The specifics above are summarized at a high level. See the linked primary sources for exact current requirements, and treat anything time-sensitive as something to confirm with the state agency or an employment attorney.