Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin last week signed a bill into law that makes Vermont the fifth state in the US to guarantee paid sick days.

H.187 requires employers to provide a paid time-off policy to include a minimum of three days in a 12-month period to full-time employees beginning in 2017, and five days from 2019 going forward.

The bill affects 60,000 Vermont workers. It excludes short-term temporary employees, summer seasonal employees and some part-time employees.

“When Vermonters do not have access to paid sick leave, they often go to work anyway, putting the health of other workers, the workplace, and all of us at risk,” said Gov. Shumlin. “There can’t be too many Vermonters who believe people should face the decision of going to work sick or potentially losing their job. When Vermonters are sick, we want them to get healthy. This law will provide dignity for employees, a more productive workforce for employers, and a safer workplace for all of us.”

California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Oregon also have paid sick leave laws.