Legislative lowdown: NYC's expanded time off law takes effect as Mamdani steps up enforcement

"Most employees in the city are already entitled to take up to 40 or 56 hours of paid time off a year for a variety of reasons, including caring for themselves or a family member who is sick, or taking safety measures in the case of incidents such as domestic or workplace violence."

"The recently enacted amendments also require employers to grant workers 32 additional hours of unpaid protected time off immediately when they're hired, and then on an annual basis. Employers are required to offer the protected paid leave on an accrual basis, with workers earning one hour of time off for every 30 hours worked."

"Despite the robust paid leave protections currently in place in New York City, 50% of employees with access to these benefits still miss at least one workday each year because they are ill, injured, or disabled, according to a new report from the city's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection."

New York City implemented enhanced paid leave protections for workers, expanding the reasons employees can request paid time off to include caring for family members with disabilities and staying home during government-declared public emergencies. Employers must now grant 32 additional hours of unpaid protected time off when workers are hired and annually thereafter. Workers earn paid leave on an accrual basis at one hour per 30 hours worked. Despite existing protections, 50% of employees with access to these benefits still miss workdays due to illness or disability. Mayor Zohran Mamdani launched an enforcement initiative, sending letters to over 56,000 employers reminding them of their legal obligations to comply with paid leave requirements.

Read at HR Brew