Dec 29, 2020

New Yorkers can use new paid sick leave benefits starting Friday, Jan. 1, 2021

On Dec. 29, 2020, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that under the state’s new paid sick leave law, New Yorkers can begin using new sick leave benefits starting Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. This legislation, which was enacted as part of the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget, ensures employees who work at medium and large businesses are provided paid sick leave and employees who work at small businesses are granted paid or unpaid leave depending on the employer’s net income.

New Yorkers earn sick leave based on the hours they work—earning one hour of leave for every 30 hours worked, retroactive to Sept. 30, 2020. New York’s new guaranteed sick leave law requires businesses to provide different levels of sick leave depending on their size: 

• Businesses with 100 or more employees must provide up to seven days (56 hours) of paid sick leave per year;  
• Businesses with five to 99 employees must provide up to five days (40 hours) of paid sick leave per year; 
• Businesses with fewer than five employees, but a net income of more than $1 million must provide up to five days (40 hours) of paid sick leave per year; and
• Smaller businesses with fewer than five employees and a net income of less than $1 million must provide up to five days (40 hours) of unpaid sick leave. However, those already providing paid sick leave can continue to do so. 

To learn more about this law, register for PIANY’s upcoming webinar— Understanding New York State Sick Leave Law—taught by PIA Northeast’s Government Affairs Counsel Clare Irvine, Esq., and review New York’s Sick Leave Law, which can be found in PIA’s QuickSource library.