New paid and unpaid sick-leave law offers protections to NY workers

September 30, 2020

New York State’s new sick-leave law will provide more protections for workers at mom-and-pop businesses and for victims of domestic violence, even if they are part-time employees.

The law goes into effect Wednesday, when workers can begin accruing sick time, but employees may not begin using New York State Sick Leave benefits until Jan. 1.

Most private employers are already providing 40 hours of paid time off a year to full-time workers, said attorney Domenique Camacho Moran, a partner and head of labor and employment practice at Farrell Fritz law firm in Uniondale. The biggest impact of the new law will be to mom-and-pop businesses, many of which don’t have formal policies for time off, and to part-time employees who have no leave benefits, she said.

The new law requires that employers provide paid or unpaid sick leave, with the amount varying based on their number of workers and net income.

“And, so, for part-time employees who may not work as often, they are going to accrue sick leave,” Moran said.

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