--- title: "New York Paid Sick Leave Law: 1 Hour per 30 Hours Worked" description: "New York paid sick leave: 1 hour per 30 worked, 40–56 hours a year, carryover and covered uses, from official pages." url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/bookkeeping/paid-sick-leave-new-york" --- Paid sick leave · New York # New York paid sick leave How employees earn sick time under New York State Paid Sick Leave (Labor Law 196-b), the yearly limit, when new hires can use it and what it covers, with a dated example. [![Intuit ProAdvisor Gold tier badge](/img/credentials/intuit-proadvisor-gold.png)](https://proadvisor.intuit.com/app/accountant/search?searchId=matthew-coleman77)Gold tier in Intuit's ProAdvisor program. [See my Intuit listing](https://proadvisor.intuit.com/app/accountant/search?searchId=matthew-coleman77) Keeping your own books? Tallyfinch does invoices, bank import and reports on your computer. [See Tallyfinch](/bookkeeping/mcc-books-downloadable-bookkeeping-software) **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. Hiring in another state? [Employer registration in New York, done for you](/bookkeeping/out-of-state-employer-registration), or [a free bookkeeping health check](/bookkeeping/health-check). - 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](/bookkeeping/sick-leave-accrual-calculator?state=ny). ## 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. ## Unused hours at year end Sick leave an employee doesn't use during the year must be carried over to the next calendar year; the employer may still limit use to the yearly amount. ## 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)](https://www.nyc.gov/site/dca/about/paid-sick-leave-FAQs.page). ## 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. ## Official sources - [New York Paid Sick Leave (New York State)](https://www.ny.gov/programs/new-york-paid-sick-leave) (checked November 2026) - [Amount of leave (New York State)](https://www.ny.gov/new-york-paid-sick-leave/new-york-paid-sick-leave) (checked November 2026) - [New York State Paid Sick Leave for Employers fact sheet (New York State)](https://www.ny.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/PSL_Employers_factsheet.pdf) (checked November 2026) - [Protected Time Off Law FAQs (NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection)](https://www.nyc.gov/site/dca/about/paid-sick-leave-FAQs.page) (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. **Does unused sick time carry over to the next year in New York?** Sick leave an employee doesn't use during the year must be carried over to the next calendar year; the employer may still limit use to the yearly 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](/bookkeeping/paid-sick-leave-laws-by-state) · [New Jersey](/bookkeeping/paid-sick-leave-new-jersey) · [Washington](/bookkeeping/paid-sick-leave-washington) Tallyfinch ### Books you keep on your own computer Tallyfinch does invoices, bills, bank import, reconciliation and the main reports, in a file you own. $99 once, then $5 a month for updates; the app keeps working if you stop the plan. It does not do payroll or sales tax filing. The free download records up to 60 entries. [See Tallyfinch](/bookkeeping/mcc-books-downloadable-bookkeeping-software) [Download it free](/tools/pro/trial/mccBooks) [Compare the three apps](/software) ## Want payroll and leave tracked for you? [See bookkeeping services](/bookkeeping/)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)