Half A Million New Yorkers Covered Under Extension Of Paid Sick Leave Law
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - New York City's expanded paid sick leave law takes effect Tuesday.
As WCBS 880's Monica Miller reported, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito hit the streets of Harlem to let residents know about the extensions to the paid sick leave law.
"It's a great moment, it's historic for the city of New York. It's going to cover a lot of workers, particularly women are going to benefit from this," said Mark-Viverito.
Half A Million New Yorkers Covered Under Extension Of Paid Sick Leave Law
Workers at businesses with five or more employees who are hired to work more than 80 hours a calendar year will now be able to accrue up to five paid sick days per year under the new provision.
"This is about providing a benefit if you are sick and you cannot work or if your child is sick and you need to tend to their needs," said the council speaker. "This is a right people have. They shouldn't feel threatened that they're going to lose their job or be admonished by their employer."
Workers like Charles applauded the measure because no one is immune to getting sick.
"Especially in the winter time, and this was a cold winter that just passed. Kids were sick, parents got sick sometimes and the rent is high out here, so you can't afford to lose a day's pay," he told Miller.
The law impacts more than 500,000 New Yorkers.
Mayor Bill de Blasio, who championed the effort, signed the measure into law last month.
The bill was passed by the City Council in February, 46-5, and was the first to be signed into law by de Blasio.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories
