The New York law requiring leave for employees who are subject to a COVID-related quarantine or isolation order expires tomorrow.
The requirement, which had been in effect since March 2020, was expected to be repealed as part of the 2024 budget process, officially ends on July 31, 2025. Employers may want to remove any references to the COVID-leave law from their employment policies, to avoid any confusion.
While the separate statutory requirement for COVID leave has ended, employers should be aware that employees may have leave rights with respect to COVID-related illness under other laws such as the FMLA (when COVID illness constitutes a serious health condition) and disability accommodation laws. With the sunsetting of the NY COVID leave law, employers should treat COVID-related illness the same as other illnesses.