On March 12, 2022, former Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law a bill requiring that all public and private employers in New York State provide their workforces with up to four hours of paid time off to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The law was scheduled to remain in effect until December 31, 2022 and has now been extended to expire on December 31, 2023.
Next Steps for Employers
Employers should continue to ensure that they are providing employees with paid time off for COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots in accordance with the law and their existing policy and procedures for vaccination leave. For additional information on the law, employers may refer to the state’s published guidance.
Additionally, employers should also be mindful that employees who experience side effects from the vaccine may use their New York Paid Sick Leave (NY PSL) to recover with vaccine side effects. More information and resources on NY PSL are available here.
