Changes Made to Earned Safe and Sick Leave and Temporary Schedule Change Acts
New York City’s Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (ESSTA) requires that employers provide either paid or unpaid leave to employees so that they can tend to their own healthcare needs, a family member’s care. The city’s Temporary Schedule Change Law allows employees at covered businesses to request two temporary schedule changes per year for a personal matter, such as caregiving or legal proceedings. Both acts were recently amended, with changes going into effect on February 22, 2026.
Under the revised statute, the following changes will be implemented:
- The permissible reasons an employee may give for paid leave or sick time have been expanded
- All covered employees will be entitled to an additional 32 hours of unpaid leave or sick time per calendar year, available immediately upon hire and renewable every calendar year
- Employers must also provide at least 20 hours of paid prenatal leave annually
Because of these expanded opportunities for employees to take paid or unpaid leave, the provisions of the temporary schedule change act requiring employers to accommodate two schedule change request per year are no longer in effect.
Employers must provide notice of the new benefits and must ensure that they have procedures in place that allow tracking of both paid and unpaid leave or sick time.
Let Stephen Hans & Associates Help You Ensure Compliance with New York Employment and Labor Laws
At Stephen Hans & Associates, we have successfully advised and represented many New York City employers many years, helping them meet employment law requirements and protecting their rights in employment litigation, including claims involving allegations of workplace retaliation. Susan Lacerte, executive director of the Queens Botanical Garden has lauded us for our “dedication, knowledge and experience” and for helping the Botanical Gardens “successfully resolve difficult legal issues with [our] talent, negotiating skills, personal care and attention.”
Our experienced attorneys are glad to answer your questions and provide legal advise. Do you have questions regarding the New York City Employment Law Amendments that Go Into Effect?