Important Information About New Sick Leave Legislation

Earlier this year, New York State passed the Paid Sick Leave Law to ensure that all employees in New York State have access to paid sick leave. Effective January 1, 2021, the law sets a minimum threshold for sick leave hours provided by employers. It also expands who is eligible for paid sick leave as well as the reasons an employee can use sick leave and requires that employers provide a summary of all used sick leave to employees upon request. New sick leave requirement Beginning January 1, 2021, employers with 100 or more employees are required to offer a minimum of 56 hours of paid sick leave each calendar year to all full-time employees and up to 56 hours to part-time and Time-as-Reported (TAR) employees, based on hours worked. Expanded allowable reasons for using sick leave Employees will now be able to use sick leave to take care of issues related to illness, injury, or medical care for their qualifying family, which includes spouses and domestic partners, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren. This time can also be used for issues related to domestic violence for themselves or qualifying family. Please visit the Human Resources website for additional information on changes to specific groups of faculty and staff as well as resources, including directions on how to record sick leave in HRMS. The University’s new Sick Leave Policy (Policy 337) is also available. The University supports the new paid sick leave legislation and is committed to providing an environment where all who work, teach, provide care, research, and create have time to care for themselves and their loved ones. If you have any questions about the new sick leave law or other benefits, please contact Ask URHR by phone at (585) 275-8747 or by email at ask-urhr@rochester.edu.