NYC's Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law

Overview of NYC’s Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law

Under NYC’s Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law, covered employees have the right to use safe and sick leave for the care and treatment of themselves or a family member and to seek legal and social services assistance or take other safety measures if the employee or a family member may be the victim of any act or threat of domestic violence or unwanted sexual contact, stalking, or human trafficking. Employer responsibilities include:

• Employers with 100 or more employees must provide up to 56 hours of paid safe and sick leave each calendar year.
• Employers with 5 to 99 employees must provide up to 40 hours of paid safe and sick leave each calendar year.
• Employers with four or fewer employees and a net income of $1 million or more must provide up to 40 hours of paid safe and sick leave each calendar year.
• Employers with four or fewer employees and a net income of less than $1 million must provide up to 40 hours of unpaid safe and sick leave each calendar year.
• Employers with 1 or more domestic workers must provide up to 40 hours of paid safe and sick leave each calendar year; employers with 100 or more domestic workers must provide up to 56 hours of paid safe and sick leave each calendar year.
• Regardless of employer size or net income, all employers must provide a separate bank of 20 hours of paid prenatal leave per 52-week period in addition to up to 40 or 56 hours of accrued safe and sick leave each calendar year.
• Employers must allow employees to use safe and sick leave as it is accrued, with no waiting period for new hires.
• Employees can use leave for unexpected reasons without giving advance notice.
• Employers must provide employees with a written safe and sick leave and paid prenatal leave policy that describes the benefits and how to use them.
• Employers can require documentation only when employees use more than three workdays in a row of leave, if the documentation requirement is explained in the employer’s written policy.
• Employers must inform employees of their accrued, used, and total safe and sick leave balances on a paystub or through an employee-accessible electronic system. Paid prenatal leave use and balance information may be provided in separate documentation.

Right to Paid Prenatal Leave 

Effective January 1, 2025, covered employers must provide 20 hours of paid prenatal leave. Paid prenatal leave is paid time off work that covered employees can use for healthcare during their pregnancy or related to their pregnancy, including fertility treatment and end of pregnancy care.

• If your employer is not providing you with paid prenatal leave, file a complaint with DCWP. Please include ‘paid prenatal leave’ when you describe your complaint.
• If you have questions, read our FAQ or ask DCWP a question online.

Law, Rules, and FAQs

New York City Administrative Code > Title 20: Consumer and Worker Protection > Chapter 8: Earned Safe and Sick Time Act

Rules of the City of New York > Title 6: Department of Consumer and Worker Protection > Chapter 7: Office of Labor Policy and Standards > Subchapter B: Earned Safe and Sick Time

Read Paid Safe and Sick Leave: Frequently Asked Questions (05/2025)

COVID-19 Paid Leave

If you, your child, or a close family member test positive for COVID-19, you may be eligible for paid leave under New York State labor laws. Contact the New York State Department of Labor (NYS DOL) to learn more.

• Visit paidfamilyleave.ny.gov/covid19
• Call 888-4-NYSDOL (888-469-7365)

These rights under New York State law are in addition to your rights under NYC’s Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law. If you are eligible for leave under State law, consider using NYS leave before using your accrued sick leave under City law. Note: Your employer cannot require you to use your accrued NYC sick leave first. Employers cannot mistreat or punish workers for using or asking for sick leave. If you have questions about NYC’s Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law, contact the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.

Please note: The COVID-19 quarantine leave legislation expires on July 31, 2025.

Information for Employers and Employees

Under New York City's Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law), certain employers must give their employees safe and sick leave. Click below to learn more.