NYC Council Proposal Would Give Workers Time Off for Pet Care

New York City workers would be guaranteed paid time off to care for pets or service animals under a bill introduced to the NYC Council, an unusual twist in employment law.

The legislation (Int. 1089-2024), if enacted, would make New York City one of few US locales with paid time off mandates that cover caring for animals. The city council was scheduled to refer the bill to its Consumer and Worker Protection Committee on Wednesday.

The proposal is the latest in a steady expansion of local and state sick time mandates around the US. Fifteen states plus Washington, D.C., and other cities require private sector employers to provide their workers a few days each year of paid time off for health reasons, with many of them also covering “safe leave” for victims of violence or stalking. Alaska, Missouri, and Nebraska voters will decide on ballot measures next month that would enact paid sick time mandates in their states.

New York City’s existing law requires employers with 100 or more employees to let workers earn up to 56 hours per year of paid sick time. Smaller employers must allow 40 hours per year.

The sick time law in Emeryville, Calif., also covers time off to care for an employee’s service or guide dog. The New York City proposal appears to go further by covering both a service animal and “an animal kept primarily for companionship in compliance with all applicable laws,” according to the bill text.

Illinois, Maine, and Nevada along with several cities and counties mandate paid time off for any purpose, which would apply to time off to care for sick animals.

New York City’s paid sick time law has evolved into a national leader over a series of revisions since its initial passage in 2014, said Jared Make, vice president at A Better Balance, which advocates for paid sick time laws and other worker protection laws. Those changes have included the addition of safe leave and a private right of action, allowing workers to sue employers directly for alleged violations.

“We worked for many, many years to pass New York City’s original paid sick time law and have been thrilled the city has expanded it multiple times,” he said.