Effective July 31, 2025, New York will no longer require employers to provide paid sick leave to employees who contract COVID-19.

As discussed in our prior alert, New York has required employers to provide COVID-19 leave since March 2020. Going forward, such leave will no longer be required.

However, an employee who is exposed to, or becomes ill with, COVID-19 may be eligible for paid or unpaid leave under other laws. For example, an employee who is sick or whose covered family member is ill due to COVID-19 may still be entitled to paid leave under the New York State or City sick leave laws.

Employers should be aware that the end of COVID-19 leave does not affect the separate requirement that employers comply with the New York Health and Essential Rights (HERO) Act, which requires employers to maintain plans to protect their employees against any future airborne disease outbreaks.

For more information, please contact Ryan W. Lee at rwlee@foxrothschild.com, Carolyn D. Richmond at crichmond@foxrothschild.com, Glenn S. Grindlinger at ggrindlinger@foxrothschild.com, or any member of Fox Rothschild’s New York Labor & Employment Department.

This information is intended to inform firm clients and friends about legal developments, including the decisions of courts and administrative bodies. Nothing in this alert should be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion. Readers should not act upon the information contained in this alert without seeking the advice of legal counsel. Views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily this law firm or its clients. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.