Paid Sick Leave Law: What Every NY Employer Needs To Know

Governor Cuomo announced that New York employers will need to begin providing their employees with sick leave benefits under the state's paid sick leave law starting January 1, 2021.

Employees are entitled to earn sick leave based on the hours they work - one hour of leave for every 30 hours they work - retroactive to September 30, 2020.

Sick leave is provided in the situation that an employee is recovering from an illness themselves, caring for a sick family member, or addressing safety needs if they or a family member are the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking.

What Businesses Need To Know

Businesses with 100 or more employees: must provide up to seven days (56 hours) of paid sick leave per year.
Businesses with 5 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.
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).