Reminder: NY Paid COVID Sick Leave is still in Effect

A number of employers have inquired whether the New York State paid sick leave legislation is still in effect, in view of the lifting of the federal Public Health emergency.  Unfortunately, the New York Paid COVID Sick Leave, which is codified in the Supplemental Paid Leave and COVID-19 Paid Family Leave Law, does not have an expiration date.  Thus, unless the Legislature amends the law, employers will be obligated to continue providing and paying for COVID sick leave.  However, while the statute requires employers to provide “up to 14 days” (for “large” employers), note that the amount of leave granted to an employee is based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) isolation and quarantine guidelines, which are regularly changing (and the recommended amount of sick leave for infected employees is decreasing).