Family Leave Act and Unemployent
Family Medical Leave (Act):
Unemployment Insurance:
Here are a few things you should know about the current state of the NYS Unemployment Insurance system:
- They have waived the 7-day waiting period for Unemployment Insurance benefits for people who are out of work due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) closures or quarantines.
- Filing a new Unemployment Insurance claim? The day you should file is now based on the first letter of your last name. For last names starting with A - F, file on Monday. For last names starting with G - N, file on Tuesday. For last names starting with O - Z, file on Wednesday. If you missed your filing day, file on Thursday or Friday. Filing later in the week will not delay your payments or affect the date of your claim; all claims are effective on the Monday of the week in which they are filed.
- You must file online (click here) or over the phone (Telephone Claim Center: 1-888-209-8124 open 8 am to 5 pm, Monday - Friday)
NOTE: OneWorkSource Centers in the North Country have closed, but if you need further assistance with your unemployment insurance or have any questions, staff is available by phone:
- Warren: 518-743-0925
- Clinton: 518-561-0430
- Franklin: 518-481-5755
- Essex: 518-873-3207
- Hamilton: 518-648-6131
NYS Paid Leave Act:
On Wednesday March 18th, New York State lawmakers approved paid sick-leave and quarantined worker protections.
To address the immediate need of employees affected by COVID-19 who are subject to mandatory or precautionary orders of quarantine or isolation, the legislation will provide the following:
- Employers with 10 or fewer employees and a net income less than $1 million will provide job protection for the duration of the quarantine order and guarantee their workers access to Paid Family Leave and disability benefits (short-term disability) for the period of quarantine including wage replacement for their salaries up to $150,000.
- Employers with 11-99 employees and employers with 10 or fewer employees and a net income greater than $1 million will provide at least 5 days of paid sick leave, job protection for the duration of the quarantine order, and guarantee their workers access to Paid Family Leave and disability benefits (short-term disability) for the period of quarantine including wage replacement for their salaries up to $150,000.
- Employers with 100 or more employees, as well as all public employers (regardless of number of employees), will provide at least 14 days of paid sick leave and guarantee job protection for the duration of the quarantine order.
Outside of quarantines, the legislation also says:
- Businesses with four workers or fewer and a net income of less than $1 million will provide at least five days of unpaid sick leave annually.
- Businesses with 5-99 employees (or at least $1 million net income) must provide five days of paid sick leave annually.
- Businesses with 100 or more employees must provide seven days of paid sick leave annually.
The provisions of the quarantine legislation are set to take effect immediately upon passage, ensuring that New York workers will be able to take advantage of these benefits.
