We Did It Together!
After years of work with our partners and supporters, A Better Balance was thrilled to finally see the Earned Sick Time Act become law in 2014. The new law creates a legal right to sick time for 3.4 million private-sector workers in New York City, including approximately 1.2 million New Yorkers who had no access to paid sick time prior to the law’s passage. The law allows covered workers to take up to 40 hours of sick time in a year, either for themselves or to care for certain family members. Workers cannot be fired or punished for taking this time. In businesses with 5 or more workers, sick time must be paid. Workers are entitled to start earning sick time on April 1, 2014, although the earliest they will be able to use their sick time under this law is July 30, 2014.
We are proud to have helped change the New York City legal landscape in such a major way for all workers and especially for those in low-wage jobs.
Background
A Better Balance fought long and hard—for more than 4 years—to create this change in New York City. We helped to build and lead a tremendous coalition of union leaders, health care practitioners and experts, women leaders, parent groups, economists, LGBT advocates, and small business owners who endorsed the paid sick time campaign. Together with the members of the New York City Paid Sick Days Coalition, we held dozens of events and actions to demonstrate the broad and diverse support for paid sick time in New York City. We worked on drafting the legislation and helped to negotiate the final, broad and inclusive version of the bill. We showed, conclusively, that paid sick time is a public health issue, a women’s issue, a moral issue, an economic justice issue, a parents’ issue, an LGBT issue, an economic justice issue, and a racial justice issue. After all of that work, we’re only just getting started! We will be focusing our efforts in 2014 and beyond on enforcement, education, and expansion.
What We’re Doing Now
- Helping thousands of workers in New York City to understand and enforce their rights through community trainings, free legal advice through our hotline, and individual representation. See our web page for workers in New York City to learn more.
- Working on the law’s rules and regulations. See our comments on the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs’ proposed rules on sick time.
- Pushing forward for similar laws at the state and federal level and in cities around the country. Read about our efforts here.
Resources
- See our one-page flyer and one-page summary of the final New York City Earned Sick Time Act.
- Check out our list of the 8 most Frequently Asked Questions on the Earned Sick Time Act (click here for a Spanish version), and download a brochure that contains this information.
- The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs, the agency that is enforcing the Earned Sick Time Act, has distributed information about the law here.
- Three sick time bills have been passed into law by the New York City Council, and together they comprise the full Earned Sick Time Act. To download the bills, click here, here, and here.
Contact
Contact A Better Balance at our offices to make a media inquiry, ask a question, seek legal assistance, or request a training for workers, service providers, or attorneys: 212-430-5982 or info@abetterbalance.org.
Media
Read about support for passage of the Earned Sick Time Act and how A Better Balance helped shape public opinion.
- The New York Times published three editorials that helped propel paid sick days towards legislative victory:August 4, 2012; October 14, 2012; and February 26, 2013.
- The New York Times quoted A Better Balance in an article on the negotiations during development of the legislation and published an editorial in support of the compromise we helped negotiate.
- Sherry Leiwant, A Better Balance Co-President and Co-Founder, discussed the victory for working families on MSNBC.
- The New York Times wrote in support of the expanded bill that A Better Balance worked to strengthen and that Mayor de Blasio ultimately signed into law.
The New York City Paid Sick Time Campaign has generated tremendous media coverage in other outlets around the country.
- For a sampling of this media coverage, click here.
Research & Polling
The New York City paid sick time campaign generated widespread support among New York City residents, as shown by numerous polls. The campaign also benefited from comprehensive studies concerning the need for (and benefits of) paid sick time in New York City. To learn more about the research and polling that supported the campaign, click here.
