New state law allows employees time off for COVID-19 vaccinations

ALBANY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo on March 12 signed legislation granting public and private employees time off to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

“Our essential employees have been on the front lines of this pandemic since day one, and as we begin to work toward a new normal in a post-pandemic world, it is critical that these employees are able to get vaccinated as quickly as possible to protect themselves and their families,” Cuomo said in a statement. “This legislation will allow both public and private employees to take time off to get vaccinated without exhausting the leave they have earned, putting us one step closer to getting every single New Yorker vaccinated and defeating this virus once and for all.” 

The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) union commended the legislature for supporting the bill and Cuomo for signing it.

Vaccination clinics for those eligible are available locally and regionally, but many workers don’t have available leave or can’t afford to take unpaid leave to get vaccinated, the PEF said. Passage of the COVID-19 vaccination-leave bill provides up to four hours of leave per vaccination for both public and private employees as of March 12.

“Encouraging New Yorkers to get their shots is sound public policy,” Wayne Spence, president of PEF, said. “While we will continue to press for this bill to be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2021, and include leave for potential vaccine-induced illness, we are grateful the state has taken this proactive step toward easing the burden of workers struggling to find time to receive their vaccinations.”