As of today, NYC employers, with 5 or more employees, must provide job-protected paid sick leave to their employees. Smaller employers must provide job-protected unpaid sick leave. Key aspects of the law include:
- Leave accrues at the rate of 1 hour for every 30 hours worked for any employee who works at least 80 hours in a calendar year (including temporary employees)
- Employees may limit use of leave to 40 hours in as calendar year
- Leave may be used for multiple reasons including care for a sick family member and school closings
- Employers must allow employees to use accrued time in blocks as small as 4 hours
- Employers may provide more generous leave
- Employers may satisfy the leave requirements through a combination of sick and vacation
- Employers must notify all employees and new hires of the law
Employers who have not yet updated their policies should do so immediately.