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Information for Workers on Paid Safe and Sick Leave

*Important Updates Due to COVID-19*

UPDATED! COVID-19 and Paid Sick Leave. Workers who have COVID-19 or were in contact with someone with COVID-19 can get sick leave (time off) regardless of immigration status. State and local laws let workers take time off to care for themselves or a family member.

SPECIAL LEAVE FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINE. Workers get additional leave under CITY law to get their kids vaccinated. Workers get 4 additional hours of sick leave for EACH child; and EACH vaccine injection.

Employers cannot mistreat or punish workers for using or asking for sick leave. Download a summary of the paid sick leave laws in English (PDF, December 2021).

Other Languages (PDF, June 2021): Español (Spanish) | shqip (Albanian) | العربية (Arabic) | বাংলা (Bengali) | 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified) | 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional) | Français (French) | Kreyòl Ayisyen (Haitian Creole) | हिन्दी (Hindi) | 한국어 (Korean) | Język Polski (Polish) | Русский (Russian) | ردو (Urdu)
Note: Update to PDFs in other languages coming soon.

Overview of NYC’s Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law

Under NYC’s Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law, covered employees have the right to use safe and sick leave for the care and treatment of themselves or a family member and to seek legal and social services assistance or take other safety measures if the employee or a family member may be the victim of any act or threat of domestic violence or unwanted sexual contact, stalking, or human trafficking. Employer responsibilities include:

  • Employers with 100 or more employees must provide up to 56 hours of paid leave each calendar year.
  • Employers with 5 to 99 employees must provide up to 40 hours of paid leave each calendar year.
  • Employers with four or fewer employees and a net income of $1 million or more must provide up to 40 hours of paid leave each calendar year.
  • Employers with four or fewer employees and a net income of less than $1 million must provide up to 40 hours of unpaid leave each calendar year.
  • Employers with 1 or more domestic workers must provide up to 40 hours of paid leave each calendar year; employers with 100 or more domestic workers must provide up to 56 hours of paid leave each calendar year.
  • Employers must allow employees to use safe and sick leave as it is accrued, with no waiting period for new hires.
  • Employees can use safe and sick leave for unexpected reasons without giving advance notice.
  • Employers must provide employees with a written safe and sick leave policy that describes the benefit and how to use it.
  • Employers can require documentation only when employees use more than three workdays in a row of safe and sick leave, if the documentation requirement is explained in the employer’s written policy.
  • Employers must inform employees of their accrued, used, and total leave balances on a paystub or through an employee-accessible electronic system.

Important Information for Employees

Read What Employees Need to Know.

Read FAQs on NYC's Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law.

If you are a covered employee, your employer must give you written Notice of your right to safe and sick leave. You have a right to the Notice in English and in your primary language if a translation is available on the DCWP website nyc.gov/workers. Keep a copy of the Notice you are given. Your employer must also post the Notice in the workplace in an area that is visible and accessible to employees. Visit Paid Safe and Sick Leave: Notice of Employee Rights webpage.

Domestic Workers: Learn how the NYC's Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law affects you.

Complaints?

Employees, including domestic workers can submit a safe and sick leave complaint. File a workplace complaint.

Laws and Rules

Download the Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law/Rules packet.

Questions?

Contact DCA in one of the following ways:

Are You An Employer?

If you are a private or nonprofit employer in NYC or if you employ domestic workers in NYC, you must provide safe and sick leave. Know your responsibilities.