New York Statewide Paid Leave Coalition Secured Paid Sick Days for New York’s Workers on Quarantine for COVID-19

Family Values @ Work commends the over 60 members of the New York Statewide Paid Leave Coalition, and our anchor group, Citizen Action of New York, for winning passage of the New York Emergency COVID-19 Paid Sick Days bill, which will provide job protection and wage replacement for New York workers directly impacted by the COVID-19 virus. We applaud the coalition for their leadership in continuing to fight for a permanent statewide paid sick days policy. 

The New York bill requires all employers to provide 14 job-protected sick days for those who cannot work due to a government authorized order of quarantine or isolation, as a result of COVID-19. Employers with 100 or more employees must provide 14 paid sick days. Those with 10-99 employees will provide 5 paid sick days; and those with less than 10 will provide unpaid sick days. Wage replacement for impacted employees beyond what is required from employers will be provided through a combination of paid family leave and temporary disability insurance.

While this step addresses a critical and immediate need during this public health emergency,  we stand with the coalition in calling out its inadequacies. It applies only to workers who are quarantined, or those who must care for a dependent child who is quarantined. There are so many others who are staying home based on the recommendation of a doctor or because of a secondary exposure and who cannot work remotely; not to mention those who are self-employed or who have been designated as independent contractors. Many must stay home to care for family members other than dependent children. And at the last minute, despite the leadership of Governor Andrew Cuomo, the legislation was stripped of any permanent statewide paid sick leave policy. More must be done. 

The  New York Statewide Paid Leave Coalition, Citizen Action of New York and the entire Family Values @ Work network will continue to fight for access to paid time to care for all of the nation’s workers, no matter where they work, where they live, or who they care for. We remain committed to winning paid sick days for all workers permanently – not just during times of public health emergencies – because no one should have to choose between taking time to heal or care for a loved one and putting food on the table. Our health as a nation depends on the health of each of its residents.