The recently adopted state budget will require annual sick leave policies for all private sector employees by January 2021. By expanding annual sick leave, we will help to ensure that New York’s workers will not have to choose between paying their bills and taking care of themselves or their loved ones.

Annual sick leave will be expanded to include employees in the following situations:

• Those working for small employers, which have four or fewer employees, would receive up to 40 hours of unpaid sick leave per calendar year.
• Those working for medium-sized employers, which are classified as four or fewer employees and have a net income of greater than $1 million or have between five and 99 employees, would receive 40 hours of paid sick leave per calendar year.
• Those working for employers with more than 100 employees would receive up to 56 hours of paid sick leave per calendar year.

This sick leave is available for mental or physical illness and injury or health conditions of a family member. It is also available for those seeking services related to domestic violence, a sexual offense, stalking or human trafficking.

The current pandemic has shown us that disease can arise without warning and spread rapidly. By expanding annual sick leave, we are helping to ensure that those who are ill will be able to prioritize their health and that of their family, without jeopardizing their financial well-being.