NYS COVID Sick Leave Sunset

New York State’s COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave law will officially expire on July 31, 2025. This law, enacted in 2020 to provide job-protected, paid time off for COVID-related illness, testing, or mandatory isolation, is being sunset as part of the state’s transition away from emergency pandemic measures.

After July 31, employers will no longer be required to provide paid sick leave specifically tied to COVID-19 exposure, symptoms, testing, or public health quarantine orders. Moving forward, any related time off would fall under standard leave policies such as NYS Paid Sick Leave, Paid Family Leave, or FMLA—depending on the situation and eligibility.

Employers should take this opportunity to review and update internal policies, employee handbooks, and any HR documents that reference COVID-specific paid leave. It’s also a good time to remove expired forms or notices and communicate the change to managers and employees so there’s no confusion heading into August.

Here’s a quick employer checklist:

• Review your written sick leave policy and remove outdated COVID-specific language
• Update handbook PDFs or internal HR portals if COVID leave is mentioned
• Make sure your payroll or time-off systems no longer include separate COVID sick leave codes
• Notify employees and supervisors that the COVID sick leave requirement will no longer apply after July 31
• Continue to follow NYS Paid Sick Leave and other applicable laws for general illness-related absences

This change reflects broader public health guidance and compliance shifts across the state. Staying current will help ensure your policies remain accurate, supportive, and legally compliant.

For any questions, feel free to give us a call at (585) 347-1300.