N.Y. governor, lawmakers agree on expanded sick leave, disability

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New York lawmakers and Gov. Andrew Cuomo agreed on Wednesday to legislation that will expand paid sick leave and disability payments for workers who have contracted or been exposed to COVID-19 in the workplace.

The legislation, introduced into both the state Assembly and Senate on Tuesday as A.B. 10152 and S.B. 6217, will require employers with 10 or fewer employees and net income less than $1 million to provide paid leave and short-term disability benefits to workers under quarantine for the duration of their order including wage replacement for their salaries up to $150,000. Employers with up to 99 employees and net income greater than $1 million must provide five days of paid sick leave and job protection for the quarantine order, and guarantee workers access to paid family leave and disability benefits for the period of the quarantine including wage replacement for the salaries up to $150,000.

Employers with 100 or more employees and public employers must provide at least 14 days of paid sick leave and guarantee job protection for the quarantine period.

The quarantine legislation will take effect immediately after it is signed by Gov. Cuomo.

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