NYS Expands Sick Leave for COVID-19 Epidemic

The Legislature and Governor have come to an agreement on paid sick leave related to the COVID-19 epidemic. The proposal will require:

Paid Sick Leave

Employers with 4 or fewer employees and a net income less than $1 million will provide up to 40 hours of unpaid sick leave
Employers with 4 or fewer employees and a net income more than $1 million will provide up to 40 hours of paid sick leave
Employers with 5 – 99 employees will provide up to 40 hours of paid sick leave
Employers with 100+ employees will provide up to 56 hours of paid sick leave

Employers with 10 or fewer employees and a net income less than $1 million must provide job protection for New Yorkers who have been quarantined or isolated by a “mandatory or precautionary order” by the State, Department of Health, local board of health “or any government entity authorized to issue such order” and guarantee their workers access to Paid Family Leave and disability benefits (short-term disability) for the period of quarantine including wage replacement for their salaries up to $150,000.
Employers with 11 – 99 employees and employers with 10 or fewer employees and a net income greater than $1 million will provide at least 5 days of paid sick leave, job protection for the duration of a quarantine order, and guarantee their workers access to Paid Family Leave and disability benefits (short-term disability) for the period of quarantine including wage replacement for their salaries up to $150,000.
Employers with 100 or more employees, as well as all public employers (regardless of number of employees), will provide at least 14 days of paid sick leave and guarantee job protection for the duration of a quarantine order.

All employers must keep records of all sick leave accrued and used by each employee.

The provisions are set to take effect immediately upon passage.