SFY 2020-21 Budget Expands Annual Sick Leave to All New Yorkers

Speaker Carl Heastie and Labor Committee Chair Marcos A. Crespo today announced that the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2020-21 Budget includes provisions that will require annual sick leave policies for all private sector employees.

“The Assembly Majority believes that no one should have to choose between financial stability and their health,” Speaker Heastie said. “This COVID-19 outbreak demonstrated in no uncertain terms, just how important it is that workers have the ability to stay home when they are unwell. This provision will improve the lives and livelihoods of New Yorkers.”

“Annual sick leave policies give peace of mind to New Yorkers,” Assemblymember Crespo said. “I am proud that we extended that peace of mind to the private sector during the current crisis. Now, with this budget, these workers will not have to worry about choosing between their job and their health in the future when they get sick.”

The current global pandemic has demonstrated just how quickly deadly illnesses can spread, and how important it is that everyone has the opportunity to remain home if they are ill. A law passed earlier this year extends sick leave to those quarantined due to the coronavirus pandemic. The SFY 2020-21 budget expands access to annual sick leave, anti-retaliation and job protections to all private sector employees beginning in January 2021.

Those working for small employers, which have four or fewer employees, would receive up to 40 hours of unpaid sick leave per calendar year. Employees of medium employer, which is 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.

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