In New York, the minimum wage will be raised and a new sickness absence law will also come into effect for 2021.
New York is one of 15 states with a paid sick leave law, and employees can use sick leave to recover from an illness, care for a sick family member, or seek help for themselves or a family member in the event of domestic violence, assault, stalking, or human trafficking .
About 1.3 million New Yorkers did not have access to paid sick leave before the law, according to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office, and nearly 1 in 4 workers have reported having been fired or threatened with dismissal for sick leave.
“No one should have to choose between going to work sick or caring for a sick loved one and not getting a salary, especially as we continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul.
At most companies, employees can start using sick days that started in September under the new law at a rate of one hour per 30 hours worked. Any unused sick leave must be carried over to the following year.
Companies with more than 100 employees must provide employees with up to 56 hours – equal to seven days – of paid sick leave annually. That drops to 40 hours – five days – at most companies with five to 99 employees.
Employees at companies with fewer than four employees and a net income of less than $ 1 million must provide up to 40 hours of unpaid sick leave each year.
And the hourly minimum wage is now $ 14 an hour in Long Island and Westchester under changes that took effect Wednesday. Wages in the rest of New York have increased from $ 11.80 to $ 12.50.
New York City began enacting a $ 15 statewide minimum wage in 2016 and New York City reached $ 15 in 2018 and 2019.
The minimum wage will continue to rise every year in the rest of the state until it reaches $ 15. The state labor commissioner will announce the next increase by Oct. 1 at a rate based on the consumer price index.
Minimum wage hikes are unlikely to significantly harm the economic recovery of Long Island, Westchester and New York after the global pandemic, Commissioner Roberta Reardon said in a mid-December report. Unemployment fell from an April peak of 15.9% in Long Island and Westchester and 15.4% upstate to 7.1% and 6.8% in October.
“Before this crisis, we hit record low unemployment rates while raising the minimum wage – improving the lives of thousands of New Yorkers – and we will rebuild our economy while continuing to lead the nation in the fight for economic justice,” she said. “This investment in our employees proves once again that we in New York believe that a fair day’s work deserves a fair day’s wages.”