Until the Federal program (“Families First Coronavirus Response Act”) becomes effective in April to help ease some of the financial strains from the COVID-19 outbreak (the illness caused by the novel Coronavirus), NY State is helping fill the void on the State level through “Emergency COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave” signed into law 3/18/2020 for employees who can’t work while under quarantine. This means, starting April 1st , the Federal program becomes the primary source of COVID-19 paid sick leave (unless NY Paid Sick leave is a richer benefit)

The new New York COVID-19 Paid Leave law guarantees job-protected paid leave to workers who are subject to an order of mandatory/precautionary quarantine or isolation for COVID-19, issued by the state of New York, the Department of Health, the local board of health, or any government entity duly authorized to issue such order, or whose minor dependent child is under such an order.

-OR-

Most employees whose minor dependent child is under an order of mandatory or precautionary quarantine or isolation issued by the state of New York, the Department of Health, the local board of health, or any government entity duly authorized to issue such order due to COVID-19, may be eligible to take Paid Family Leave to care for them.

Please note – an employee cannot collect both NY Sick Leave & Unemployment at the same time.

You can also find greater detail with regard to the law & claim forms at COVID-19 Guidance for Employers