**UPDATE: On December 24, 2021, the bill lapsed into law, retroactive to November 2, 2021.**

The New York City Council approved a bill that amends the City’s Earned Safe and Sick Time Act to require employers to provide paid COVID-19 child vaccination leave. Without signature from Mayor Bill de Blasio, the bill lapses into law after 30 days (i.e., on December 24, 2021) but applies retroactively to November 2, 2021, which is the date the CDC authorized the COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11.

Under the bill, employees who are the parents of a child under the age of 18 (or an older child who is incapable of self-care because of a mental or physical disability) are entitled to four hours of COVID-19 child vaccination time per vaccine injection, for each such child, for an absence from work due to any of the following reasons associated with such child’s COVID-19 vaccination: (i) accompanying such child to receive a COVID-19 vaccine injection; or (ii) caring for such child who cannot attend school or childcare due to temporary side effects from a COVID-19 injection. Such paid leave cannot be charged against an employee’s accrual or use of sick or safe leave under existing law.

Employers may require reasonable notice of the need for such leave as well as reasonable documentation within seven days of an employee’s use of leave. Notwithstanding other provisions of the city law allowing the safe and sick time provisions to be waived, the requirement to provide COVID-19 child vaccination time cannot be waived.

The law will expire and be deemed repealed on December 31, 2022, though employers will still be required to pay each employee for COVID-19 child vaccination time accrued on or before that date. New York City employers should review their policies on paid leave, especially as it relates to COVID-19, and be prepared to make necessary revisions to comply with the law. Employers should also keep in mind the New York State paid vaccine leave law which, as we previously reported, requires employers to provide employees with a sufficient period of time, not to exceed four hours, per vaccine dose, to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

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Proskauer’s cross-disciplinary, cross-jurisdictional Coronavirus Response Team is focused on supporting and addressing client concerns. Visit our Coronavirus Resource Center for guidance on risk management measures, practical steps businesses can take and resources to help manage ongoing operations.

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Photo of Steven Hurd Steven Hurd

Steve has extensive trial and appellate experience, in both federal and state courts focusing on claims of alleged individual and class discrimination, sexual harassment, wage and hour violations, FINRA, whistleblowing and retaliation, defamation, fraud, breach of contract, wrongful discharge and other statutory and…

Steve has extensive trial and appellate experience, in both federal and state courts focusing on claims of alleged individual and class discrimination, sexual harassment, wage and hour violations, FINRA, whistleblowing and retaliation, defamation, fraud, breach of contract, wrongful discharge and other statutory and common law claims. Steve also advises clients on employment litigation avoidance, litigation strategy and alternative forms of dispute resolution. Steve also handles matters involving drafting, enforcing, and defending restrictive covenants, and protecting trade secrets.

Steve is a partner in the Labor & Employment Law Department and co-head of the Employment Litigation & Arbitration Practice Group and Media & Entertainment Industry Group, and is a member of the Restrictive Covenants, Trade Secrets & Unfair Competition Group.

Steve helps his clients stay in compliance with the ever-changing employment regulations with respect to FLSA and state law wage and hour requirements by providing advice and conducting comprehensive audits. Steve conducts investigations pertaining to reductions-in-force and individual employee terminations, and claims of gender, race, national origin, and disability discrimination.

Photo of Arielle E. Kobetz Arielle E. Kobetz

Arielle E. Kobetz is an associate in the Labor & Employment Law Department and a member of the Employment Counseling & Training Group. Her practice focuses on providing clients with strategies and counseling related to a variety of workplace-related disputes, including employee terminations…

Arielle E. Kobetz is an associate in the Labor & Employment Law Department and a member of the Employment Counseling & Training Group. Her practice focuses on providing clients with strategies and counseling related to a variety of workplace-related disputes, including employee terminations and discipline, leave and accommodation requests, and general employee relations matters. She also counsels clients on developing, implementing and enforcing personnel policies and procedures and reviewing and revising employee handbooks under federal, state and local law.

Prior to joining Proskauer, Arielle served as a law clerk at the New York City Human Resources Administration, Employment Law Unit, where she worked on a variety of employment discrimination and internal employee disciplinary issues.