In the U.S., What Your Employer Must Pay You: A Guide to Minimum Wage & Sick Leave Documentation

Navigating your rights as an employee in the United States can feel like trying to solve a complex puzzle. With a web of federal, state, and local laws, it’s not always clear what you're entitled to, especially when it comes to two of the most searched-for topics: your pay and your right to take sick leave.

Understanding the basics of minimum wage and the rules around sick leave—including when you need to provide a doctor's note—is essential for protecting yourself financially and professionally. This guide breaks down what you need to know about what your employer must pay you and how to properly document your absences when you're unwell.

Part 1: The Minimum Wage Puzzle

The concept of a minimum wage was established by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in 1938 to ensure workers receive a fair baseline of pay. However, what that baseline is can change dramatically depending on where you live.

The Federal Standard vs. State and City Laws

• The Federal Minimum Wage: The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. This rate has not changed since 2009. Any employer covered by the FLSA must pay at least this amount.

• State and Local Minimums: This is where it gets complicated. The vast majority of states have their own minimum wage laws. If a state or city has a higher minimum wage than the federal rate, your employer is legally required to pay you the higher amount.

  • As of 2025, over 30 states have minimum wages above the federal level.
  • Many states, including California, New York, and Washington, have rates of $16 per hour or higher. Several major cities have even higher local minimums, with some exceeding $17 or $18 per hour.
  • On the other hand, a few states have no minimum wage law or a rate below the federal level, in which case the $7.25 federal standard applies.

What This Means for You: You are entitled to the highest minimum wage applicable to your location—be it federal, state, or city. Always check the specific Department of Labor website for your state and city to know your rights.

Part 2: Your Rights When You're Sick

Just as with minimum wage, the rules for sick leave in the U.S. are a patchwork of different laws. Understanding your rights is the first step to taking the time you need to recover without fear of losing your job or pay.

Is Sick Leave Paid? The Legal Landscape

• No Federal Mandate for Paid Sick Leave: It surprises many to learn that there is no federal law in the U.S. that requires private employers to provide paid sick leave.
• State and City Laws Fill the Gap: Recognizing this gap, many states and cities have passed their own mandatory paid sick leave laws. As of 2025, at least 15 states and Washington, D.C., require employers to provide paid sick time. These laws typically require you to accrue a certain amount of paid leave based on the hours you work.
• The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): For serious health conditions, the FMLA is a critical piece of federal protection. It provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for their own serious illness or to care for an immediate family member. To be eligible, you must have worked for your employer for at least 12 months and for at least 1,250 hours in the past year, and your company must have 50 or more employees within a 75-mile radius.

When Sickness and Documentation Collide: The Doctor's Note

This is where your rights to pay and leave connect directly with the need for proper documentation. An employer has the right to verify that your absence is for a legitimate medical reason, but this right is not unlimited.

When can your employer ask for a doctor's note?
* Company Policy: Employers can legally create policies that require a doctor's note, especially for absences of three or more consecutive days. They must apply this policy consistently to all employees.
* FMLA Leave: If you are requesting leave under the FMLA for a serious health condition, your employer is legally permitted to require medical certification from a healthcare provider.
* ADA Accommodations: If you are requesting a workplace accommodation for a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), your employer can ask for medical documentation to verify your condition and needs.

What can your employer ask for? Your Right to Privacy (HIPAA)
Your privacy is protected. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), your employer cannot demand to know your specific diagnosis or detailed medical history. A valid doctor's note needs to verify that you were seen by a medical professional and confirm the dates you are unable to work; it does not need to disclose confidential details about your health.

The Challenge: Getting the Right Documentation When You Need It

Knowing your rights is one thing; navigating the healthcare system to get the required doctor's note is another. For many, especially those in hourly or minimum-wage jobs, the process is a significant burden:
* High Costs: An in-person visit to an urgent care clinic can be prohibitively expensive, especially without good insurance.
* Long Wait Times: Securing a timely appointment is difficult, and spending hours in a waiting room means losing more time and potentially more pay.
* Uncertainty: There's no guarantee that after all the time and expense, the doctor will provide a note that meets your HR department's specific requirements.

Havellum: The Modern, Stress-Free Solution for Your Medical Documentation

This is where a service like Havellum becomes an essential tool for the modern worker. Havellum is a leading online platform dedicated to providing fast, affordable, and legitimate medical certificates from licensed U.S. healthcare professionals. We built our service to eliminate the stress and barriers of the traditional system.

Why Havellum is the Right Choice:

• Fast and Accessible 24/7: When you're sick, you can't wait. Our online process can be completed in minutes from home, and you can often receive your U.S. Doctor's Note on the same day.
• Affordable and Transparent: We offer a clear, flat-fee service that is a fraction of the cost of an in-person clinic visit, making essential documentation accessible to everyone.
• Legitimate and Verifiable: Every certificate is issued by a licensed U.S. professional and contains all the necessary information for verification by your employer, ensuring it will be accepted.
• Confidential Mental Health Support: Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. We provide a discreet and compassionate way to obtain a Mental Health Certificate when you need time to focus on your well-being.

Don't let the hassle of getting a doctor's note add to your stress when you're unwell. Explore Havellum’s full range of Services and empower yourself with the professional, verifiable documentation you need to protect your job and your health.