Important update: New York COVID-19 paid sick leave ended July 31, 2025
Read more from the Guardian Absence Management blog
New York State’s COVID-19 paid sick leave law, enacted in March 2020 to support employees under quarantine or isolation orders, expired on July 31, 2025.
This legislation provided job-protected paid leave for employees and/or their minor dependent child that were subject to a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19. The amount of leave varied based on employer size and income, ranging from unpaid COVID-19 sick leave with access to a combination of paid family leave and disability benefits, to up to 14 days of paid COVID-19 sick leave for larger employers.
HR professionals and employers across New York should update their leave policies and communicate changes to their employees. After July 31, 2025, these COVID-19 specific benefits will no longer be available, but employees may still qualify for benefits under NY Disability Benefit Law (NY DBL/PFL) as well as other programs, such as New York Paid Sick Leave.