Quarantined New Yorkers  to get paid sick leave, gov says

The Standard restaurant faces one of the main parking lots at Crossgates Mall March 16.

A bill guaranteeing job protection and pay for New Yorkers quarantined because of the coronavirus has been agreed upon by State Senate and Assembly leaders, the governor announced today.

Andrew Cuomo also announced 432 additional coronavirus cases have been confirmed in New York State, bringing the statewide total to 1,374; Albany county is fifth of the 18 counties that have confirmed cases with 25.

The program bill also includes the permanent comprehensive paid sick leave policy first advanced in Cuomo’s 2021 executive budget proposal.

This follows his announcement last week that the state will guarantee two full weeks of paid leave for all state workers who are subject to a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine as a result of COVID-19.

To address the immediate need of employees affected by COVID-19 who are subject to mandatory or precautionary orders of quarantine or isolation, the legislation will provide the following:

— Employers with 10 or fewer employees and a net income less than $1 million will provide job protection for the duration of the quarantine order and guarantee their workers access to paid family leave and disability benefits (short-term disability) for the period of quarantine including wage replacement for their salaries up to $150,000;

— Employers with 11 to 99 employees and employers with 10 or fewer employees and a net income greater than $1 million will provide at least five days of paid sick leave, job protection for the duration of the quarantine order, and guarantee their workers access to paid family leave and disability benefits (short-term disability) for the period of quarantine including wage replacement for their salaries up to $150,000; and

— Employers with 100 or more employees, as well as all public employers (regardless of number of employees), will provide at least 14 days of paid sick leave and guarantee job protection for the duration of the quarantine order.

The provisions of the quarantine legislation are set to take effect immediately upon passage, ensuring that New York workers will be able to take advantage of these benefits.

The legislation also includes the comprehensive paid sick leave proposal that was advanced by the governor as part of his State of the State and 2021 executive budget, which will be effective 180 days after enactment. Specifically, the legislation states:

— Employers with four or fewer employees and a net income less than $1 million will provide at least five days of unpaid sick leave each year;

— Employers with 5 to 99 employees and employers with four or fewer employees and a net income greater than $1 million will provide at least five days of paid sick leave each year; and

— Employers with 100 or more employees will provide at least seven days of paid sick leave each year.

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