Paid Leave for COVID-19

Supporting Families Affected by COVID-19

In response to the outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), New York State implemented programs that guarantee workers job protection and financial compensation in the event they, or their minor dependent child, are subject to a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation issued by the state of New York, the Department of Health, local board of health, or any government entity duly authorized to issue such order due to COVID-19.* For information on obtaining an order of quarantine or isolation, see our FAQ on Obtaining a Quarantine Order.

Most employees will get financial compensation by using a combination of benefits, which may include employer-provided COVID-19 sick leave, Paid Family Leave and disability benefits. These benefits are not available to employees who are able to work through remote access or other means.

Paid Family Leave may also be used to care for a family member who has contracted COVID-19, which may qualify as a serious health condition.

COVID-19 SICK LEAVE

Some employers in New York State are required to provide at least 5 or 14 days of job protected, paid COVID-19 sick leave to employees who need to take leave because they are under a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19. The amount of COVID-19 sick leave an employer is required to provide depends on the number of employees they have and the employer’s net annual income.

If your employer does not provide the required COVID-19 sick leave, you may file a complaint with the NYS Department of Labor.

View new guidance on the use of New York State Paid Sick Leave for COVID-19 vaccine recovery (5/28/21).