No one plans to get sick, but illnesses can strike at any time. For employees, taking a sick day can mean lost wages and uncertainty about job security. That‘s why it‘s important to understand your company‘s policies around sick leave.
If you work at Chick-fil-A, you‘ll be glad to know that this popular fast food chain has a fairly generous and comprehensive sick leave policy as of 2024. In this in-depth guide, we‘ll break down everything Chick-fil-A employees need to know about taking time off for illness, from eligibility and accrual to pay and benefits. We‘ll also examine how Chick-fil-A‘s approach to employee wellness stacks up against other major restaurant chains.
Chick-fil-A‘s Official Sick Leave Policy
Let‘s start with the basics. According to Chick-fil-A‘s most recent employee handbook, here are the key provisions of the company‘s sick leave policy:
- All Chick-fil-A employees, both full-time and part-time, are eligible for sick leave
- Sick days accrue at a rate of 1 hour per 30 hours worked
- Employees can accrue a maximum of 56 hours (7 days) of sick leave per year
- Sick leave balances roll over from year to year, up to a maximum of 80 hours
- Employees must be employed for 90 days before they can use accrued sick leave
- Sick leave can be used for the employee‘s own illness, medical appointments, or to care for a sick family member
- Employees are required to notify their manager as soon as possible when taking a sick day
- For absences of more than 3 consecutive days, Chick-fil-A may require a doctor‘s note
Right off the bat, there are several employee-friendly aspects to this policy. Most notably, it applies to part-time workers as well as full-timers, which is not the case at many other fast food chains. The 90-day waiting period is also shorter than the industry standard of 1 year.
"Chick-fil-A‘s sick leave policy is definitely a step above a lot of its competitors," says Jenna Barns, an HR consultant who specializes in the restaurant industry. "Extending this benefit to all workers regardless of hours is huge. It shows the company is invested in the health and well-being of every employee."
In fact, a recent survey by the National Partnership for Women & Families found that only 45% of restaurant workers have access to paid sick days, compared to 62% of the overall workforce.[^1] Chick-fil-A‘s universal sick leave puts the chain well ahead of the curve in its industry.
[^1]: National Partnership for Women & Families. (2022). Paid Sick Days: Good for Business, Good for Workers. https://www.nationalpartnership.org/our-work/resources/economic-justice/paid-sick-days/paid-sick-days-good-for-business-and-workers.pdfHow Chick-fil-A‘s Sick Leave Compares to Other Chains
To put Chick-fil-A‘s policy in perspective, let‘s look at how it measures up against some of the biggest names in fast food. The table below provides a side-by-side comparison:
| Restaurant Chain | Sick Leave Eligibility | Accrual Rate | Annual Cap | Carryover | Waiting Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chick-fil-A | All employees | 1 hr / 30 hrs worked | 56 hrs | 80 hrs | 90 days |
| McDonald‘s | Varies by location | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Wendy‘s | Full-time only | 1 hr / 43 hrs worked | 40 hrs | 40 hrs | 1 year |
| Burger King | Varies by location | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| KFC | Full-time only | 2 hrs / 40 hrs worked | 40 hrs | 60 hrs | 90 days |
| Taco Bell | Varies by location | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
Sources: Company websites, employee handbooks, and media reports.
As the data shows, Chick-fil-A is one of the only major chains to offer sick leave benefits to both part-time and full-time employees. The company‘s 90-day waiting period is also among the shortest. And while a few chains, like KFC, offer a slightly faster accrual rate, Chick-fil-A allows for more carryover of unused sick hours from year to year.
"From a worker‘s perspective, Chick-fil-A‘s standardized, universal sick leave policy provides a lot more clarity and protection compared to the patchwork of varying policies at other fast food giants," says Barns. "There‘s less room for confusion or unfair treatment from location to location."
The Business Case for a Strong Sick Leave Policy
Of course, providing paid sick leave isn‘t just about doing right by employees. There‘s also a strong business rationale for Chick-fil-A and other companies to offer this benefit.
For one, paid sick leave has been shown to reduce turnover and boost productivity. A study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh found that food service workers with paid sick days were 28% less likely to change jobs than those without.[^2] With the high costs of recruiting and training in the fast food industry, retaining experienced workers can provide significant savings.
[^2]: Asfaw, A., Pana-Cryan, R., & Rosa, R. (2019). Paid sick leave and nonfatal occupational injuries among US workers. American Journal of Public Health, 109(9), 1219-1225. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2019.305159Paid sick leave also helps prevent the spread of illness in the workplace. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 20 million Americans catch the flu each year, leading to 111 million lost workdays and $16.3 billion in lost earnings.[^3] When sick workers have the ability to stay home, it reduces the risk of infecting their colleagues and customers.
[^3]: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Influenza (flu). https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/index.htmlThis is especially critical in the food service industry, where workers frequently handle food and interact with the public. "No one wants to eat a chicken sandwich made by someone with the flu," notes Barns. "By providing paid sick leave, Chick-fil-A is protecting both the health and appetite of its customers."
Paid Sick Leave at Chick-fil-A
Now for the million-dollar question: Do Chick-fil-A workers get paid for sick days? The answer is yes…with a few caveats.
Chick-fil-A‘s policy states that sick leave is paid at the employee‘s regular hourly rate. However, since the company uses an accrual system, newer employees may not have much paid time built up. An employee would need to work 210 hours to earn a single paid sick day (7 hours x 30).
Furthermore, while the policy doesn‘t explicitly state it, Chick-fil-A operators have discretion over granting additional paid sick leave on a case-by-case basis. Some may choose to provide extra paid time for longtime loyal employees dealing with serious illnesses. But there are no guarantees.
It‘s also worth noting that Chick-fil-A‘s vacation policy is completely separate from sick leave. Employees do not accrue paid vacation days. Any vacation time is unpaid, although in practice many operators work with employees to accommodate time off requests when possible.
Health Insurance and Other Benefits
Sick leave is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to employee health and wellness. Chick-fil-A also offers health insurance to eligible workers, which can make a huge difference in affording medical care.
As of 2024, Chick-fil-A‘s health insurance policy includes the following key points:
- Employees are eligible for health insurance after 90 days of employment
- Both full-time and part-time employees working a minimum of 30 hours per week on average are eligible
- Chick-fil-A pays a portion of insurance premiums; employees are responsible for the remainder
- Plans include medical, dental and vision coverage
- Employees can add family members to their plan at an additional cost
- Flexible spending accounts are also available to help cover out-of-pocket medical costs
"Health insurance is a real differentiator for Chick-fil-A," notes Barns. "Most fast food chains only offer this benefit to full-time employees, if at all. Including part-timers is pretty revolutionary for this industry."
That said, the 30-hour-per-week threshold may put health coverage out of reach for many part-time Chick-fil-A employees. Scheduling can vary widely week to week. A worker who averages 29 hours has markedly different benefits from one who averages 31, despite similar take-home pay.
Beyond insurance, Chick-fil-A offers a few other notable health and wellness perks. Employees receive free meals during their shifts, which can add up to substantial savings over time. The company also provides access to counseling services for mental health support.
How Chick-fil-A Handles Illness on the Job
Even with a generous sick leave policy, illnesses don‘t always cooperate with work schedules. That‘s why Chick-fil-A has established procedures for handling sickness that arises on the job.
If an employee starts feeling ill during a shift, Chick-fil-A requires them to notify a manager right away. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, the manager may allow the employee to rest in the break area for a short period before determining whether they can return to work. If the employee has a fever, is vomiting, or shows signs of a contagious illness, they will likely be sent home.
In the event of a more serious medical emergency, Chick-fil-A managers are trained to call 911 and provide any necessary first aid until paramedics arrive. The health and safety of the affected employee is the top priority.
Chick-fil-A also has reporting procedures in place for any on-the-job injuries or work-related illnesses. Employees must notify a manager right away so that an incident report can be filed and follow-up care can be arranged. In some cases, workers‘ compensation may apply.
Societal Benefits of Paid Sick Leave
While much of the discussion around sick leave policies focuses on the impacts for individual companies and workers, there are also important societal implications to consider.
A growing body of research indicates that access to paid sick days provides broad public health benefits. One study published in the journal Health Affairs found that the implementation of mandatory paid sick leave laws reduced flu infections by up to 40% in the first year.[^4]
[^4]: Pichler, S., Wen, K., & Ziebarth, N. R. (2020). Positive health externalities of mandating paid sick leave. Health Affairs, 39(11), 1993-2007. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00245Paid sick leave has also been linked to better preventive care and management of chronic illnesses. When workers are able to take time off for medical appointments without losing pay, they‘re more likely to stay up to date on important screenings and treatments. This can lead to improved health outcomes and lower healthcare costs in the long run.
Furthermore, paid sick leave helps support public health measures during disease outbreaks. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, the CDC recommended that anyone exposed to the virus or experiencing symptoms stay home from work.[^5] But for many low-wage workers without paid sick leave, following that advice would have meant forgoing much-needed income.
[^5]: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Interim guidance for businesses and employers responding to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html"The pandemic really highlighted the gaping holes in our paid leave system," says Barns. "Especially in service industries like fast food, where workers are more likely to be low-income and uninsured, the lack of universal paid sick leave puts whole communities at risk."
While Chick-fil-A‘s policy is a step in the right direction, Barns argues there‘s still a need for more comprehensive government solutions. "Relying on individual companies to provide paid sick leave just creates an uneven playing field," she says. "A national standard would level the playing field and ensure all workers are protected."
Advocating for Stronger Sick Leave at Chick-fil-A
For Chick-fil-A employees who feel the current sick leave policy isn‘t meeting their needs, there are a few potential avenues for advocating change.
One option is to raise concerns with management at the store level. Documenting specific instances where the policy has fallen short and proposing solutions can be an effective approach. For example, if numerous workers have run into issues with the 90-day waiting period, suggesting a shorter timeline with supporting rationale could spur a local policy tweak.
Employees can also consider contacting Chick-fil-A‘s corporate HR department to share feedback. While individual restaurants are franchised, company-wide policies are set at the national level. Enough complaints bubbling up from multiple stores could catch the attention of higher-ups.
Another strategy is to get involved with worker advocacy groups. Organizations like the Fight for $15 and the Restaurant Opportunities Center United have been at the forefront of pushing for better wages and benefits in the fast food industry, including paid sick leave. Participating in their campaigns and amplifying their message can help build broader momentum for change.
Of course, these efforts aren‘t without risk. Fast food workers who speak out about labor issues sometimes face retaliation from their employers.[^6] That‘s why it‘s important to know your rights and connect with allies before raising your voice. Nonprofit legal aid societies can be a good resource for understanding worker protections.
[^6]: Scheiber, N. (2021). Fight for $15: The Daunting Ascent of a Sweeping Movement. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/18/business/economy/minimum-wage-fast-food-workers.htmlUltimately, creating a fairer and more robust sick leave policy at Chick-fil-A will likely require sustained pressure from multiple stakeholders: employees, customers, advocacy groups, and perhaps even policymakers. Change may not happen overnight, but each individual voice can contribute to building a groundswell.
The Bottom Line for Chick-fil-A Employees
All things considered, Chick-fil-A provides some of the better sick leave and health benefits in the fast food industry as of 2024. The fact that part-time employees are eligible for both paid sick time and health insurance sets a great example.
However, the accrual-based sick leave policy and 30-hour threshold for health coverage mean that these benefits aren‘t as accessible as they could be for all workers. There‘s certainly room for Chick-fil-A and other chains to do more to support employees‘ health and financial stability.
Ultimately, it‘s important for all Chick-fil-A employees to understand the details of the company‘s sick leave policy and know their rights. Don‘t be afraid to communicate openly with your manager about any health concerns. And if you feel your benefits aren‘t adequate for your needs, consider advocating for positive change. After all, a healthy workforce is in everyone‘s best interest.
From a consumer perspective, supporting businesses with fair labor practices is one way to vote with your wallet for a better society. "When companies provide good wages and benefits, it‘s not just good for workers, it‘s good for the whole economy," says Barns. "Those workers go out and spend their money at other businesses. It creates a virtuous cycle."
The next time you‘re deciding where to grab lunch, consider looking beyond the menu. Seeking out restaurants like Chick-fil-A that offer paid sick leave—and continuing to push them to do even better by their employees—can be a small but meaningful way to shape the world for the better.
