The minimum wage is rising in New York, and a new sick leave law is also taking effect for 2021.
New York is one of 15 states with a paid sick leave law, and workers can use sick leave to recover from illness, care for a sick family member or seek help for themselves or a family member for violence. domestic violence, sexual assault, persecution or human trafficking.
About 1.3 million New Yorkers did not have access to paid sick leave before the law, according to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office, and nearly 1 in 4 workers reported being fired or threatened with termination due to sick leave.
“No one should have to choose between working sick or caring for a sick loved one and not receiving a salary, especially as we continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Governor Kathy Hochul.
The employees of most companies can start enjoying sick leave that the new law allowed them to start accumulating in September, at the rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked. Any unused medical leave must be carried over to the following year.
Companies with more than 100 employees must provide workers with up to 56 hours – the equivalent of seven days – of paid sick leave each year. This drops to 40 hours – five days – in most companies with five to 99 employees.
Workers in companies with fewer than four employees and a net income of less than $ 1 million must provide up to 40 hours of unpaid sick leave each year.
And the hourly minimum wage is now $ 14 on Long Island and Westchester, with the changes taking effect on Wednesday. Wages in the rest of New York increased to $ 12.50 from $ 11.80.
New York began raising the $ 15 minimum wage across the state in 2016, and New York City reached $ 15 in 2018-2019.
The minimum wage will continue to rise each year in the rest of the state until it reaches $ 15. The state labor commissioner will announce the next increase until October 1 at a rate based on the consumer price index.
Minimum wage increases are not likely to substantially harm the economic recovery of Long Island, Westchester and New York from the global pandemic, according to state Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon in a mid-December report. Unemployment rates fell from a peak of 15.9% in April on Long Island and Westchester and 15.4% in the interior of the state, to 7.1% and 6.8% in October.
“Before this crisis, we reached record unemployment rates and raised the minimum wage – improving the lives of thousands of New Yorkers – and we will rebuild our economy while continuing to lead the nation in the fight for economic justice,” she said. This investment in our workers proves once again that, in New York, we believe that a fair day’s work deserves a fair pay. “