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Office of Labor Policy & Standards

Workers' Bill of Rights

Paid Safe and Sick Leave

Fast Food Workers

Retail Workers

Freelance Workers

Delivery Workers

Paid Care Workers

Additional Worker Rights

File Complaint


Information for Workers on Paid Safe and Sick Leave

New York State Paid Prenatal Leave Law Takes Effect January 1, 2025

All privately-employed pregnant New Yorkers will be able to receive an additional 20 hours of paid sick leave for prenatal care in addition to their existing paid safe and sick leave (i.e., up to 40 or 56 hours a year).

If your employer is not providing you with paid prenatal leave, file a complaint with DCWP. Please include ‘paid prenatal leave’ when you describe your complaint.

If you have questions, ask DCWP a question online or read NYS FAQs.

Please continue to monitor this page as DCWP will provide additional information for employers and employees.

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 leave each calendar year.

Employers with 5 to 99 employees must provide up to 40 hours of paid 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 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 leave each calendar year.

Employers with 1 or more domestic workers must provide up to 40 hours of paid leave each calendar year; employers with 100 or more domestic workers must provide up to 56 hours of paid 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 safe and sick leave for unexpected reasons without giving advance notice.

Employers must provide employees with a written safe and sick leave policy that describes the benefit and how to use it.

Employers can require documentation only when employees use more than three workdays in a row of safe and sick leave, if the documentation requirement is explained in the employer’s written policy.

Employers must inform employees of their accrued, used, and total leave balances on a paystub or through an employee-accessible electronic system.

Important Information for Employees

Read What Employees Need to Know.

Read FAQs on NYC's Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law. (09/2024)

If you are a covered employee, your employer must give you written Notice of your right to safe and sick 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

Use DCWP Online Services to file a complaint online.

Get information on how to submit a complaint by email or mail.

Use DCWP Online Services to ask a question online or contact DCWP in one of the following ways:

Email OLPS@dcwp.nyc.gov

Call 311 (212-NEW-YORK outside NYC)

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.