Alaska combines federal rules with a few state-specific ones. Most notably, since July 2025 most employers must give paid sick leave. Vacation, parental leave and bereavement leave are still mostly up to employers.
This guide covers the main Alaska leave laws for 2026: PTO, sick leave, parental leave, bereavement, jury duty, military and voting leave, plus the state holidays. A leave tracker like Day Off can help you keep it all organized.
Related reading: Kentucky Leave Laws And Holidays 2026
Related reading: Arkansas Leave Laws And Holidays 2026
Paid Time Off (PTO) in Alaska
Leave Quota
Alaska law doesn’t require employers to give paid time off (PTO). Each employer decides how much PTO to offer.
The amount often depends on length of service, role and industry standards. Many companies offer between 10 and 20 days of PTO a year.
Accrual
Accrual is how employees earn PTO over time. For example, an employee might earn 1.5 days a month, which adds up to 18 days a year.
Other employers give the full year’s PTO upfront, at the start of the year or when the employee is hired.
Rollover
Rollover decides whether unused PTO carries over to the next year. In Alaska, employers set their own rules:
- “Use it or lose it”: unused PTO is lost at the end of the year.
- Partial rollover: some unused days carry over, up to a cap.
- Full rollover: all unused days carry over.
Caps on rollover encourage employees to take their PTO regularly.
Payout of Unused Vacation on Termination
Alaska has no law requiring employers to pay out unused PTO when someone leaves. However, if the employer has a written policy or regular practice of paying it out, they must follow it.
Sick Leave in Alaska
Alaska Paid Sick Leave Law
Since July 1, 2025, Alaska requires most employers to give paid sick leave, after voters approved Ballot Measure 1. The main rules are:
- Accrual: employees earn 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Exempt (salaried) employees earn 1.25 hours a week.
- Yearly cap: employers with 14 or fewer employees can cap accrual at 40 hours a year. Employers with 15 or more can cap it at 56 hours.
- Carryover: unused sick leave carries over to the next year.
- Uses: the employee’s own illness or injury, caring for a sick or injured family member, and needs related to domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking.
- Doctor’s notes: employers can’t ask for proof for absences of three workdays in a row or fewer.
Employers can offer more generous sick leave. Make your policy clear in the employee handbook.
Federal Sick Leave Law (FMLA)
At the federal level, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) gives eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year for certain medical and family reasons, including serious health conditions. FMLA leave is unpaid and doesn’t set a number of sick days.
Some federal contractors must also follow Executive Order 13706. It requires up to seven days (56 hours) of paid sick leave a year for employees working on covered federal contracts.
Sick Leave Payout
Alaska employers don’t have to pay out unused sick leave when an employee leaves. Unused sick leave is usually lost when employment ends.
The exception: if the employer’s policy or the employment contract says unused sick leave will be paid out, the employer must do so. Spell out your payout rules in the employee handbook to avoid disputes.
Maternity, Paternity and FMLA in Alaska
Private Sector Employees
Alaska has no law requiring private employers to give paid maternity or paternity leave. Each employer decides whether to offer it, and the terms vary a lot between companies.
Most private-sector employees rely on the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for unpaid, job-protected time off after a birth or adoption.
Additional State Laws
Alaska has no extra state law requiring maternity or paternity leave for private employers. Employers can still offer more through their own policies, such as:
- Paid time off (PTO)
- Short-term disability insurance
- Unpaid leave beyond what FMLA covers
Some municipalities and larger companies have their own agreements on parental leave. Employees should check their contract or company policy.
Public Sector Employees
State and local government employees in Alaska often have more generous leave options than private-sector workers. These can include:
- Longer unpaid leave
- Paid leave using accrued sick or annual leave
- Extra benefits under union (collective bargaining) agreements
Some public employees can also get partial pay during parental leave. This varies by department and job, so check with HR for details.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
The FMLA applies to both private and public employees in Alaska. Eligible employees can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for reasons including the birth or adoption of a child. When they return, they must get the same job or an equivalent one.
To qualify, employees must:
- Work for a covered employer, usually one with 50 or more employees
- Have worked there for at least 12 months
- Have worked at least 1,250 hours in the previous 12 months
Bereavement Leave in Alaska
Alaska has no law requiring employers to give bereavement leave, paid or unpaid. Each employer sets its own policy.
Employers who offer it usually give a few days off after the death of a close family member, and some pay for that time. Public employees may have clearer rules through their department or union agreement. Employees should check their company’s leave policy.
Jury Duty in Alaska
Under Alaska leave laws, employees can take time off for jury duty without losing their job.
- Employers must give unpaid leave for the whole jury service.
- They can’t fire, demote or otherwise penalize employees for serving.
- Employees should tell their employer as soon as they get a summons.
- When they return, they generally get their job back with the same pay and benefits.
Some employers pay employees during jury duty, but state law doesn’t require it.
Payout
- Court pay: jurors in Alaska are paid $25 to $50 a day, plus mileage at $0.54 per mile.
- Employer pay: private employers don’t have to pay employees during jury duty.
- Best practice: many employers pay regular wages anyway, and set this out in their policy. Some ask employees to hand over their jury pay in return.
Military Leave in Alaska
Alaska protects employees who serve in the military under both federal and state law.
Federal law (USERRA)
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) protects all US employees, including in Alaska. It covers Army and Air National Guard members called to federal service. When they return, they must get their civilian job back with the same pay, seniority and benefits as if they had never left.
Alaska state law
Under Alaska Stat. § 26.05.075, members of the organized state militia, including the Alaska National Guard, Alaska Naval Militia and Alaska State Defense Force, are entitled to:
- Unlimited unpaid leave: when called to active state service.
- Reinstatement: their old job, or a similar one with the same pay, seniority and benefits, when their service ends.
- Protection if disabled: if they’re disabled during service and can’t do their old job, they’re entitled to a comparable one. They must ask for reemployment within 30 days of being cleared for full-time work by a doctor.
- No discrimination: employers can’t discriminate against National Guard or naval militia members because of their service (AK Stat. § 26.05.340).
Public employees summoned to active duty by the governor get extra protection: five days of leave without loss of pay, time or efficiency rating, up to 16.5 working days in 12 months (Alaska Statutes § 39.20.340).
Payout
Military leave in Alaska is unpaid, except for the limited paid leave for public employees called up by the governor.
Voting Leave in Alaska
Alaska employees can take time off to vote in statewide elections.
- If they don’t have enough time to vote outside work hours, they’re entitled to up to two hours of paid leave.
- The time is usually given at the start or end of the workday.
- If the employee has at least two hours in a row outside work while the polls are open, the employer doesn’t have to give extra time.
Alaska State Holidays in 2026
Alaska law doesn’t require private employers to give holiday leave, paid or unpaid. Employers decide whether to offer it and can ask employees to work on holidays.
Employers also don’t have to pay extra, such as time and a half, for holiday work unless the employee qualifies for overtime. If you do offer holiday leave, follow your company policy or the employment contract.
Alaska Holidays in 2026
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
|
New Year’s Day |
Thursday, January 1, 2026 |
|
Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
Monday, January 19, 2026 |
|
Presidents’ Day |
Monday, February 16, 2026 |
|
Seward’s Day |
Monday, March 30, 2026 |
|
Good Friday |
Friday, April 3, 2026 |
|
Memorial Day |
Monday, May 25, 2026 |
|
Independence Day |
Saturday, July 4, 2026 (observed Friday, July 3) |
|
Labor Day |
Monday, September 7, 2026 |
|
Alaska Day |
Sunday, October 18, 2026 (observed Monday, October 19) |
|
Veterans Day |
Wednesday, November 11, 2026 |
|
Thanksgiving Day |
Thursday, November 26, 2026 |
|
Christmas Day |
Friday, December 25, 2026 |
FAQ
What are the main types of employee leave in Alaska?
Employees in Alaska may be eligible for various types of leave, including paid time off (PTO), sick leave, family and medical leave, parental leave, bereavement leave, and jury duty leave. While state law doesn’t require paid vacation or PTO, many employers provide it as a benefit.
Does Alaska have a state law requiring paid sick leave?
Yes. Since July 1, 2025, most Alaska employees earn 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Employers with 14 or fewer employees can cap it at 40 hours a year, and employers with 15 or more at 56 hours a year. Unused sick leave carries over to the next year.
What family and medical leave protections apply in Alaska?
Employees in Alaska are covered under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which grants eligible workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for qualifying family or medical reasons. State employees also have additional protections under the Alaska Family Leave Act (AFLA).
Are there paid holidays in Alaska?
Paid holidays are not required by Alaska state law, but most employers offer paid holidays as part of their benefits. Common state holidays include Seward’s Day, Alaska Day, and federally recognized holidays such as Independence Day and Thanksgiving.
What is Seward’s Day and when is it observed?
Seward’s Day honors the signing of the Alaska Purchase Treaty with Russia. It is observed annually on the last Monday in March.
When is Alaska Day celebrated?
Alaska Day is celebrated on October 18 each year, commemorating the formal transfer of Alaska from Russia to the United States in 1867.
Do employees get time off for jury duty in Alaska?
Yes. Employers must allow employees time off to serve on a jury without penalty. While employers are not required to pay employees during jury service, employees cannot be fired or disciplined for attending jury duty.
Are employers required to provide bereavement leave in Alaska?
No state law mandates bereavement leave in Alaska. However, many employers voluntarily offer paid or unpaid time off for employees to grieve or attend funeral services.
Does Alaska require meal or rest breaks for employees?
Alaska law does not require meal or rest breaks for adult employees, though it does require rest and meal periods for minors under 18. Many employers provide breaks as a standard workplace practice.
How can the Day Off app help Alaska employers manage leave and holidays?
The Day Off app streamlines leave tracking, making it easy for Alaska employers to manage PTO, holidays, and absences. It automates approvals, integrates with Slack and Google Calendar, and ensures compliance with both state and federal labor requirements.