Pepper Hamilton Client Alert: New York City Council Enacts Paid Sick Time Law; Employees Now Entitled to Paid Sick Time from Certain Employers

On June 26, 2013, New York City joined the growing list of jurisdictions requiring employers to give workers paid sick time. The Earned Sick Time Act – enacted after the City Council’s decision to overrule Mayor Bloomberg’s veto earlier this month – allows employees to earn a minimum amount of paid sick time from businesses that employ at least 20 employees.

After the first 18 months, the act will expand its coverage to employers with 15 or more employees and to all who employ domestic workers. Public-sector employers are not covered by this law. The effective date of this new law is unique, as it is tied to economic indicators requiring New York City’s economy to be doing the same or better than in 2012 for it to go into effect. If, as of December 16, 2013, the local economy has not worsened, the act will go into effect on April 1, 2014. If the economic triggers are not met, the act is not repealed, just delayed.