Short answer. At least 1 hour for every 30 hours worked. Up to 56 hours a calendar year (100 or more employees) or 40 hours (fewer than 100); the employer may limit use to the required amount.
At a glance
- Law
- New York State Paid Sick Leave (Labor Law 196-b)
- In effect
- Employees began accruing leave on September 30, 2020.
- Accrual
- At least 1 hour for every 30 hours worked.
- Yearly limit
- Up to 56 hours a calendar year (100 or more employees) or 40 hours (fewer than 100); the employer may limit use to the required amount.
- Agency
- New York State Department of Labor
Rules by employer size
| Employer size | Rate | Yearly limit | Paid? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 or more employees | 1 hr per 30 | 56 hrs of use | Yes |
| 5 to 99 employees | 1 hr per 30 | 40 hrs of use | Yes |
| 4 or fewer employees, net income over $1 million | 1 hr per 30 | 40 hrs of use | Yes |
| 4 or fewer employees, net income $1 million or less (unpaid) | 1 hr per 30 | 40 hrs of use | Can be unpaid |
Example with dates
Suppose someone at an employer in the "4 or fewer employees, net income $1 million or less (unpaid)" group starts on Monday, January 18, 2027 and works 32 hours every week. At 1 hour per 30 hours worked, that's 1.06 hours a week, and the first year comes to 55.46 hours, with the yearly use limit of 40 hours reached on Monday, October 11, 2027.
- By Sunday, April 18, 2027: 12.80 hours
- By Sunday, July 18, 2027: 26.66 hours
- By Tuesday, January 18, 2028: 55.46 hours
Your own figures: open the calculator set to New York.
What the time covers
Sick or safe reasons affecting the employee or a family member the employee cares for, including when the employee or a family member has been the victim of domestic violence.
Front-loading instead of accrual
Allowed: the full amount may be provided at the beginning of each calendar year.
Smaller employers and who is covered
Employers with 4 or fewer employees and net income of $1 million or less in the previous tax year must provide up to 40 hours of unpaid sick leave.
Notices, posters and statements
Employers must notify employees in writing, or by posting a notice at the worksite, before leave is earned.
City and county rules
Yes, local paid sick leave ordinances apply in parts of the state; an employer there follows whichever rule gives employees more. The official page: Protected Time Off Law FAQs (NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection).
Worth knowing
New York City has its own law: since February 22, 2026 NYC employers must also provide 32 hours of immediately available unpaid protected time off. All private-sector employees in the state are covered by the state law.
Not stated on the official pages we read: a waiting period, carryover.
Official sources
- New York Paid Sick Leave (New York State) (checked November 2026)
- Amount of leave (New York State) (checked November 2026)
- Protected Time Off Law FAQs (NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection) (checked November 2026)
Rules as published on the pages above, checked November 2026. General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers. A city ordinance, union contract or written policy can give employees more.
Questions employers ask
How much paid sick leave do employees earn in New York?
At least 1 hour for every 30 hours worked. Up to 56 hours a calendar year (100 or more employees) or 40 hours (fewer than 100); the employer may limit use to the required amount.
Can a New York employer front-load sick leave instead of tracking accrual?
Allowed: the full amount may be provided at the beginning of each calendar year.
Do small employers in New York have to provide it?
Employers with 4 or fewer employees and net income of $1 million or less in the previous tax year must provide up to 40 hours of unpaid sick leave.
What can New York sick leave be used for?
Sick or safe reasons affecting the employee or a family member the employee cares for, including when the employee or a family member has been the victim of domestic violence.
All states: paid sick leave laws by state · New Jersey · Washington