Westchester County has released a model Notice of Employee Rights for the Westchester County Earned Sick Leave Law (“WCESLL”), effective April 10, 2019.

According to FAQ’s released simultaneously, starting on April 10, 2019, employers must begin providing eligible new hires with a copy of the law and written notice, which is intended to explain how the law applies to them.  Employers have until July 10, 2019 to provide copy of the law and written notice to eligible current employees.

The Notice confirms that any employee who works 80 hours or more in a calendar year in Westchester County is eligible to accrue sick leave under the WCESLL.  Starting on July 10, 2019, all eligible employees who work for companies with five or more employees are entitled to start accruing one (1) hour of paid  sick leave for every thirty (30) hours worked up to 40 hours of sick leave in a year.  Eligible employees who work for companies with less than five employees are entitled to accrue up to 40 hours of unpaid sick leave in a year.  Employers must allow eligible employees to use sick leave for all the reasons outlined in the WCESLL, not just absences due to an employee’s own illness.

The WCESLL also requires that employers post a poster in English, Spanish and any other language deemed appropriate by the County of Westchester, in a conspicuous location.  The County has not released a model posting to date.

For more information about WCESLL, please see our blog What Employers Can Do Right Now To Prepare For Westchester County’s Earned Sick Leave