On June 23, 2026, New York City’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) finalized its amended rules under the Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (“ESSTA”). The final rule took effect on July 23, 2026.As you may recall, on February 22, 2026, the amendments to the ESSTA took effect, which expanded qualifying reasons for leave; established … Read more
Recently, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued an opinion letter addressing whether FMLA leave may be used for time spent traveling to or from medical appointments. As you may know, the FMLA entitles an eligible employee to take a total of 12 workweeks of leave during any 12-month period for a variety of reasons, including … Read more
As you may be aware, New York State Paid Family Leave provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of job protected, paid time off to bond with a new child, care for a family member with a serious health condition, or to assist loved ones when a family member is deployed abroad on active … Read more
New York City has amended the New York City Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (“ESSTA”) expanding its leave entitlements to employees. The amendments go into effect on February 22, 2026. The amendments include the following changes: (i) employers must grant an additional 32 hours of unpaid leave to new employees upon hire and to all employees … Read more
The New York State Legislature and Governor Hochul have amended Sections 519 and 521 of the New York Judiciary Law, to increase the daily rate of pay for jury duty in New York State, from $40 to $72. This amendment was enacted through the fiscal year 2025-2026 New York State Budget, which was signed into … Read more
As a reminder, the New York State COVID-19 paid sick leave law, also known as COVID-19 Paid Emergency Leave, is set to expire on July 31, 2025. Beginning July 31, 2025, New York employers will no longer be required to provide separate leave for COVID-19 quarantines and isolations. After this date, employees may still use regular … Read more