The New York State Legislature and Governor Cuomo recently announced that they have reached agreement on a bill that will expand New York's Paid Sick Leave Law to provide pay and job protection for New York employees who have been quarantined as a result of COVID-19. Once enacted, the changes will take effect immediately.

Employers with 100 or more employees (as of January 1, 2020) will be required to provide a minimum of 14 days of paid sick leave to employees who are subject to a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19. Employers with fewer than 100 employees will be required to provide a minimum of five days of paid sick leave to such employees. In either case, the leave must be provided without loss of employees' accrued sick leave. Upon their return to work, employees must be restored to their position. The paid sick leave requirement is subject to certain exceptions.

The bill also will also amend provisions of the New York Labor Law that provide sick leave to all employees, regardless of COVID-19, with those changes taking effect 180 days after the law is enacted.