Employment & Worker Protection · New York
New York Paid Family Leave + Earned Safe and Sick Leave
L 2016 c. 54 / A 2882-A - enacted in New York.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2020
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 62/100
- New York strictness
The bottom line
New York Paid Family Leave + Earned Safe and Sick Leave is an enacted law in New York, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2021-01-01
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 62/100
- New York strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official New York legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: New York Paid Family Leave + Earned Safe and Sick Leave
New York Paid Family Leave + Earned Safe and Sick Leave (L 2016 c. 54 / A 2882-A) is an enacted law in New York under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2020-04-03 and becomes effective on 2021-01-01. New York currently reports 8 tracked regulations with 7 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 62/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places New York within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in L 2016 c. 54 / A 2882-A itself.
Applicability under New York Paid Family Leave + Earned Safe and Sick Leave: PFL: most NY employers. Sick: all employers. Penalty exposure is documented as: Workers Comp Board and Dept of Labor enforcement. Penalties up to $500/violation. Notable exemptions: Self-employed (PFL opt-in). Seasonal farm workers (modified)..
Summary
New York PFL: 12 weeks at 67% state average weekly wage. Paid sick: 56 hrs/year (employers 100+), 40 hrs (5-99 employees).
Key Requirements
PFL: 12 weeks at 67% SAWW (employee-funded). Sick: 56 hrs (100+), 40 hrs (5-99), unpaid (1-4). NYC: separate NYC ESST.
Penalties
Workers Comp Board and Dept of Labor enforcement. Penalties up to $500/violation.
Applicability
PFL: most NY employers. Sick: all employers.
Exemptions
Self-employed (PFL opt-in). Seasonal farm workers (modified).
Official Source
https://paidfamilyleave.ny.gov/How New York compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - New York ranks #7 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado | 76 |
| 3 | Texas | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 62 |
| 7 | New York (this state) | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon | 62 |
| 9 | Washington | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware | 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. New York is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was New York Paid Family Leave + Earned Safe and Sick Leave enacted?
New York Paid Family Leave + Earned Safe and Sick Leave was enacted on 2020-04-03 and became effective on 2021-01-01. It was introduced as L 2016 c. 54 / A 2882-A.
What are the penalties for violating New York Paid Family Leave + Earned Safe and Sick Leave?
Workers Comp Board and Dept of Labor enforcement. Penalties up to $500/violation. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does New York Paid Family Leave + Earned Safe and Sick Leave apply to small businesses?
PFL: most NY employers. Sick: all employers. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does New York compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
New York has a regulatory strictness score of 62/100, based on 7 enacted regulations out of 8 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of New York Paid Family Leave + Earned Safe and Sick Leave?
The official text of New York Paid Family Leave + Earned Safe and Sick Leave (L 2016 c. 54 / A 2882-A) is available from the New York legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
Regulation Guides
Plain-language guides to help you understand the broader regulatory landscape.
Explore Regulations
Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
More New York Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- New York Paid Family Leave + Earned Safe and Sick Leave is enacted in New York, effective 2021-01-01. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; New York ranks #7 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation New York tracks across all five policy areas. New York profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official New York source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.