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Information for Workers on Paid Safe and Sick Leave

Overview of NYC’s Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law

Under NYC’s Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law, covered employees have the right to use safe and sick leave for the care and treatment of themselves or a family member and to seek legal and social services assistance or take other safety measures if the employee or a family member may be the victim of any act or threat of domestic violence or unwanted sexual contact, stalking, or human trafficking. Employer responsibilities include:

  • Employers with 100 or more employees must provide up to 56 hours of paid safe and sick leave each calendar year.
  • Employers with 5 to 99 employees must provide up to 40 hours of paid safe and sick leave each calendar year.
  • Employers with four or fewer employees and a net income of $1 million or more must provide up to 40 hours of paid safe and sick leave each calendar year.
  • Employers with four or fewer employees and a net income of less than $1 million must provide up to 40 hours of unpaid safe and sick leave each calendar year.
  • Employers with 1 or more domestic workers must provide up to 40 hours of paid safe and sick leave each calendar year; employers with 100 or more domestic workers must provide up to 56 hours of paid safe and sick leave each calendar year.
  • Regardless of employer size or net income, all employers must provide a separate bank of 20 hours of paid prenatal leave per 52-week period in addition to up to 40 or 56 hours of accrued safe and sick leave each calendar year.
  • Employers must allow employees to use safe and sick leave as it is accrued, with no waiting period for new hires.
  • Employees can use leave for unexpected reasons without giving advance notice.
  • Employers must provide employees with a written safe and sick leave and paid prenatal leave policy that describes the benefits and how to use them.
  • Employers can require documentation only when employees use more than three workdays in a row of leave, if the documentation requirement is explained in the employer’s written policy.
  • Employers must inform employees of their accrued, used, and total safe and sick leave balances on a paystub or through an employee-accessible electronic system. Paid prenatal leave use and balance information may be provided in separate documentation.

Right to Paid Prenatal Leave 

Effective January 1, 2025, covered employers must provide 20 hours of paid prenatal leave. Paid prenatal leave is paid time off work that covered employees can use for healthcare during their pregnancy or related to their pregnancy, including fertility treatment and end of pregnancy care.

Important Information for Employees

Read Paid Safe and Sick Leave: Frequently Asked Questions (05/2025)

If you are a covered employee, your employer must give you written Notice of your right to safe and sick leave and paid prenatal leave. You have a right to the Notice in English and in your primary language if a translation is available on the DCWP website nyc.gov/workers. Keep a copy of the Notice you are given. Your employer must also post the Notice in the workplace in an area that is visible and accessible to employees. Visit Paid Safe and Sick Leave: Notice of Employee Rights webpage.

File a Complaint or Ask a Question

Laws and Rules

New York City Administrative Code > Title 20: Consumer and Worker Protection > Chapter 8: Earned Safe and Sick Time Act

Rules of the City of New York > Title 6: Department of Consumer and Worker Protection > Chapter 7: Office of Labor Policy and Standards > Subchapter B: Earned Safe and Sick Time

Are You An Employer?

If you are a private or nonprofit employer in NYC or if you employ domestic workers in NYC, you must provide safe and sick leave. Know your responsibilities.