Paid Safe and Sick Leave

  Related links
NYC311 Home Report Problems Look Up Service Requests Browse Topics KB Home

Need something else?

  • Labor Law for information about Paid Family Leave

New York City’s Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law gives covered employees the right to use safe and sick leave to care for themselves or anyone they consider family. 

You are a covered employee if you:

  • Work part time or full time at any size business or nonprofit in NYC.
  • Work as a domestic worker for a private household in NYC.

You can use leave for:

  • Health, including to take a child to get the COVID-19 vaccine; to care for a child who is sick, including from side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine; to care for a child when school or a child care provider closes due to a public health emergency
  • Safety because of domestic violence, unwanted sexual contact, stalking, or human trafficking 

You have this right regardless of your immigration status. Retaliation is illegal.

Under NYC’s Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law, covered employees can use sick leave:

  • For diagnosis, care, or treatment of illness, injury, or health condition or for preventive medical care for employee or anyone employee considers family.
  • When a public official closes employee’s business or child’s school or child care provider due to a public health emergency.
  • To recover from side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine.
  • To take a child to get the COVID-19 vaccine or to care for a child recovering from side effects of the vaccine

Employees may be eligible for 2 additional days as unpaid leave under NYC’s Temporary Schedule Change Law. See the Temporary Work Schedule Change page for more information. 

Special Leave for Vaccination

Worker Vaccination

All private and public sector workers in New York State get up to 4 hours per vaccine injection, for a total of up to 8 hours.

This state law is effective from March 12, 2021 through December 31, 2022.

Visit the New York State Department of Labor's website.

Workers should use Paid Leave for COVID-19 Vaccinations to get vaccinated. It is in addition to accrued leave under State or City Paid Sick Leave Laws. New York State’s Paid Sick Leave Law took effect September 30, 2020. Workers may use accrued leave under City law to recover from side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. Leave may also be covered by State law.

Child Vaccination

As of December 24, 2021, workers have additional leave under NYC’s Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law to:

  • Take kids to get the COVID-19 vaccine. 
  • Care for kids experiencing side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine.

Workers get four additional hours of sick leave for each child and each vaccine injection. 

Dedicated sick leave for child vaccination is effective through December 31, 2022.

Learn more about NYC's Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law.

Mandatory Quarantine or Isolation

New York State Emergency COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave

This state law covers government-ordered quarantine or isolation only.

Note: Workers who need an order of quarantine or isolation (COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Documentation) to give their employers can contact the NYC Department of Health.

Employees get leave for the duration of quarantine or isolation. Rate of pay is based on number of employees and, in some cases, business earnings.

Number of EmployeesBusiness IncomeRate of Pay
1-10Less than $1 million in prior yearUnpaid (all days)
More than $1 million in prior yearPaid (at least 5 days)
Unpaid (remaining days)
11-99Not applicablePaid (at least 5 days)
Unpaid (remaining days)
100+Not applicablePaid (at least 14 days)

Employees may qualify for COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave for up to 3 orders of quarantine or isolation.

Employees can use Paid Family Leave or disability benefits for the mandatory quarantine or isolation period not covered by sick days paid directly by their employer.

Exception: Workers who voluntarily travel to states designated as high risk cannot access state paid sick leave benefits or other paid benefits under the law. 

Learn more about emergency paid sick leave for COVID-19.

Federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act

The federal law was effective from April 2, 2020 through December 31, 2020.

You can learn about current federal protections during the pandemic from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Visit the U.S. Department of Labor website.

You may be able to obtain documentation to give to your employer so that you can receive paid sick leave if you qualify for it and don’t have to go into work while you are sick.

You can request this documentation if you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, such as coughing, fever, or shortness of breath.

A medical employee or clinician with the Health + Hospitals Call Center can provide you with a quick telehealth screening. This professional will ask you questions about your COVID-related symptoms.

If based on the screening the medical professional or clinician believes you are eligible for paid sick leave related to COVID-19, they will send you the required documentation needed to help you qualify for this benefit.

You will be asked for your name and email address or mailing address so that a staff member from the Department of Health can send you the required documentation. This information will not be collected or used for any other reason.

Call 311 for assistance.

 

 

[12144 M-SU: 9A-9P]

If you are an employer, you can find out:

  • Whether or not the City's Paid Safe and Sick Leave law applies to your business 
  • What your responsibilities are if the law applies to your business

Be prepared to provide information about your business so that the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) can provide general guidance about whether the law applies to your business.

Online

Get information on Paid Safe and Sick Leave for employers.

You can also:

  • Submit questions by email PSSL@dca.nyc.gov.
  • Go to the DCA Business Toolbox. With this online tool, you can use DCA's online Live Chat for businesses. Live Chat is available for employer inquiries only.
    • When you open the webpage, click the "Live Chat" button. Then, click the button in the middle of the screen that says "Live Chat with a DCA Representative to open a chat window."

By Phone

Call 311 for assistance.

 

 

[12147 M-F: 9A-5P]

Learn About Employer Training

Employers interested in trainings or events about NYC’s Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law can:

Request an Information Sheet About the Law

You can request an information sheet that provides guidance to employers about their responsibilities under the City's Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law.

Online

Download the Paid Safe and Sick Leave Information Sheet for employers.

By Mail

Call 311 to request a paper copy.

If you are an employee, you can learn about your rights under the City's Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law.

Online

Get information on Paid Safe and Sick Leave for employees.

You can also submit questions by email to PSSL@dca.nyc.gov.

By Phone

Call 311 for assistance.

 

 

[12147 M-F: 9A-5P]

Request an Information Sheet About the Law

You can request an information sheet that provides guidance to employees about their rights under the City's Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law. 

Online

Download the Paid Safe and Sick Leave Information Sheet for employees.

By Mail

Call 311 to request a paper copy.

You can request a copy of the Notice of Employee Rights. Employers must give this written notice to employees who are covered under the City's Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law. 

The Notice informs employees about their right to safe and sick leave and includes information about:

  • Safe and sick leave accrual
  • Use of safe and sick leave
  • Expanded definition of family members
  • Right to be free from retaliation 
  • Right to file a complaint  

Online

Get the Notice of Employee Rights.

By Mail

Call 311 to request a paper copy.

You can file a complaint against an employer who:

  • Does not give you safe and sick leave, whether paid or unpaid, if you are covered by the law
  • Does not give you the legally required notice of your right to safe and sick leave
  • Punishes you for using safe and sick leave

To file a complaint, complete a complaint form and email it to OLPS@dca.nyc.gov.

Online

Get the complaint form.

By Mail

Call 311 to request a paper copy.

The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) accepts anonymous tips about employers who are not obeying the City's Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law.

A DCA representative will ask you questions to assist with an investigation.

The results of any investigation are confidential.

Call 311 for assistance.

 

 

[12147 M-F: 9A-5P]

The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) was renamed to the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP). The Agency was renamed to reflect their expanded mission to protect the rights of workers and ensure compliance with labor policy and standards.

Follow NYC311

Download the NYC311 Mobile App

About NYC311 Send Feedback NYC311 Privacy Policy