Following a bill signed by Governor Cuomo on Friday, March 12, 2021, all workers in New York State are eligible for up to 4 hours of paid leave to receive their COVID-19 vaccine. The time allotted is per injection.
Employers of all sizes and industries must provide employees with sufficient time to be vaccinated for COVID-19, up to four hours per injection, at their regular rate of pay.
Employers cannot discriminate or retaliate against employees who request a leave of absence to be vaccinated, and cannot deduct the time from other employee benefits such as paid sick leave.
Employers can, however, require their employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine and bar them from the workplace if they refuse.
The new law remains unclear on certain specifics, including whether employers can stipulate or limit when an employee schedules their vaccination, whether they can demand proof of vaccination, and if the employee may use the allotted time toward recovery from any side effects.
The new law expires on December 31, 2022, and is expected to be updated beforehand. As always, we'll keep you updated with the latest news.
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