Paid Sick Leave

Recent Amendments to New York City’s Earned Safe and Sick Time Act

October 3, 2023

By Mallory A. Campbell, Samuel G. Dobre, and Camisha Parkins*

On Sept. 15, 2023, the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection adopted several amendments to the City’s Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (ESSTA). Notably, some of the key amendments include changes to 1) what constitutes an “employee” under the ESSTA; 2) how to calculate an employer’s size to meet safe/sick time requirements; 3) when it is permissible to request documentation from employees for safe and sick leave; 4) information on requirements for employees to notify their employer for use of leave; 5) calculating an employee’s rate of pay; and 6) updates that should be made to an employer’s ESSTA workplace policy. These amendments take effect on Oct. 15, 2023. A brief summary of some of the notable changes are detailed below.

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Is The End Near? COVID Paid Leave Developments

June 21, 2023

By Erin S. Torcello and Stephanie H. Fedorka

Since the announcement of the end of the federal Public Health Emergency, many clients have inquired as to the status of New York’s COVID-19 Paid Leave Law. 

As a quick recap, on March 18, 2020, in the infancy of the COVID-19 pandemic, then-Governor Cuomo signed a bill that guaranteed certain paid and unpaid leave benefits for New Yorkers subject to a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation as a result of COVID-19 (COVID Paid Leave). While the law has remained the same since its enactment, its application has changed as the State and Federal rules regarding quarantine and isolation have changed. For example, at the beginning of the pandemic, the State issued its own rules regarding quarantine and isolation, but now relies exclusively on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine appropriate quarantine and isolation protocols.

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Earned Safe and Sick Time Act Proposal

December 9, 2022

By Jane M. Sovern and Paige Carey

New York City’s Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (ESSTA or Act) provides covered employees with the right to use safe and sick leave as it accrues for a delineated list of circumstances. On Aug. 11, 2022, the New York City Council introduced a proposal to amend the ESSTA’s definition of “employee.” Under this proposal, certain independent contractors would qualify as employees and receive benefit coverage under the Act. The proposal would require hiring entities to engage in detailed analyses of individuals providing services to determine wither they are independent contractors or employees.

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New York Publishes Final Paid Sick Leave Regulations

January 4, 2022

By Theresa E. Rusnak

On Dec. 22, 2021, New York published its final paid sick leave regulations. These regulations are identical to the proposed regulations, initially published on Dec. 9, 2020. New York Paid Sick Leave (PSL) requires employers to provide paid leave to employees relating to an employee’s or an employee’s family member’s medical needs, or for reasons relating to domestic violence and similar offenses. Since Jan. 1, 2021, employers have been required to provide this leave to all New York employees. 

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