Senate Passes Paid Sick Leave for Workers in Mandatory Quarantine

Brooklyn, NY -- The Senate today passed S 8091, a measure that will guarantee job protections and paid leave for New Yorkers who have been mandatorily or precautionarily quarantined as a result of COVID-19. This legislation is part of a three-way deal between the Assembly, the Senate and the Governor’s office and the legislation’s provisions will take effect immediately.

The legislation will provide the following:

Businesses who have 10 or fewer employees as of January 1, 2020, and a net income under $1 million last fiscal year, will have the full cost of employee’s leave provided by New York State insurance programs, capped at coverage equal to annual salaries of $150,000.

Businesses who have 11-99 employees as of January 1, 2020, and a net income greater than $1 million last fiscal year, will be required to provide 5 days of paid leave to their employees, and the rest of the required quarantine or isolation days provided by New York State insurance programs, capped at coverage equal to annual salaries of $150,000.

Businesses who have 100 or more employees, and all government institutions, will be required to cover at least 14 days of paid leave.

“Allowing workers to be paid for time off when they’re in mandatory quarantine is not just the right thing to do, but the safe thing to do for every single person in society. Being exposed to coronavirus should not mean going hungry,” said Senator Andrew Gounardes.

"The single most effective way to contain the spread of this virus is to ensure people who may have come into contact with it do not interact with others. Last week I said we would lead by example by guaranteeing two weeks' pay for state workers who have been quarantined as a result of covid-19," Governor Cuomo said. "The paid sick leave measure we've agreed to today expands those protections to all new Yorkers - because no New Yorker should lose their job or income for following a critical public health order.”

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