New law bars public employers from penalizing workers for COVID absences

Employers in the public sector will be blocked from penalizing workers who used sick leave or compensatory time to quarantine or seek medical treatment due to a coronavirus diagnosis or contact under a bill signed into law on Thursday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The new law comes as more of the workforce is heading back to the office and job site as COVID-19 cases drop sharply and more people are vaccinated.

"From the beginning of this national public health crisis, we have done everything possible to protect those New Yorkers who needed to make sacrifices in order to cope with the hardships of COVID," Cuomo said. "No one should have to suffer a penalty for missing work because of COVID, and under this new law, every public employee in our state will get the protection they deserve - so they don't have to face unfair consequences for doing what was necessary to protect themselves and their loved ones."

The law was approved as New York has sought to boost rights for workers affected by the pandemic, including guaranteed paid leave under a mandatory or precautionary quarantine because of COVID and guaranteed time off from work in order to receive the vaccine.

Read more: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/buffalo/ny-state-of-politics/2021/07/01/new-law-bars-public-employers-from-penalizing-workers-for-covid-absences