Paid Sick Leave Voted Through City Council

As you may know, the City Council voted on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 to require employers with 20+ workers to provide paid sick days.

The Paid Sick Leave legislation was introduced into the Council in 2010, and received strong support by the Council's Progressive Caucus and a wide coalition of labor organizations, women's and immigrant groups, business associations, and public health organizations. Yesterday's 45-3 vote constituted over the two-thirds majority ("super-majority") needed to override a veto.

The measure, set to take effect April 1, 2014, will expand its reach to businesses with 15+ employees a year later. It will also require all city employers to provide unpaid sick leave starting in 2014.

Currently, there are 1 million New Yorker residents who don’t receive paid time off for illness and would become eligible for the benefit by 2015.

"I join my colleagues in supporting this common sense measure, and consider this a major win for all New Yorkers. Paid sick leave is good for business, and good for families," said Council Member Letitia James.