NYC's Protected Time Off Law

Under NYC’s Protected Time Off (PTO) Law, covered employees have the right to protected time off and paid prenatal leave.

• Most employees have a right to up to 40 or 56 hours of paid protected time off per year.
• Employees also have 32 hours of unpaid protected time off from the beginning of employment.
• Employees can take protected time off for many reasons, including childcare, illness, medical appointments, and more.
• Employers must provide 20 hours of paid prenatal leave in addition to protected time off.

Your employer must give you a written Notice of Employee Rights: Protected Time Off and post it in the workplace. More languages available on the Notice of Employee Rights: Protected Time Off page.

If you have questions, read our FAQ or ask a question online.

Right to Request a Temporary Schedule Change  

Employees have a protected right to request temporary schedule changes including: 

• changing the time or location of their work shift,
• working remotely, or
• swapping shifts with another employee

Employers may deny requests for a temporary schedule change, but they cannot retaliate against employees for making requests.

Law, Rules, and FAQ

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 Protected Time Off: Frequently Asked Questions (02/2026)

Information for Employers and Employees