The proposal, led by city council member Shaun Abreu, aims to amend the Earned Safe and Sick Time Act, which currently requires employers to provide paid sick leave for employees to care for themselves or family members, to also cover pets and service animals.
Abreu emphasized the mental health benefits of pet ownership, pointing to research indicating that having pets can lower cortisol levels, a hormone linked to stress, and encourage physical activity while combating social isolation.
“One of the simplest ways to support mental health is by promoting pet ownership,” Abreu told the New York Times. “Keeping our pets healthy keeps us healthy.”
However, the proposed bill, known as Introduction 1089, has faced criticism from some who worry that employees might exploit these benefits and that certain employers might be reluctant to approve time off for pets.
Kathryn Wylde, president of the Partnership for New York, voiced concerns about the potential financial implications, stating, “These benefits cost money. It’s one thing if the employee is sick and can’t come to work; it’s another if it’s a discretionary activity.” She added that the law could contribute to rising living and business costs in New York.
If enacted, this legislation could be among the first of its kind in a major urban area. Currently, New York City law provides workers at companies with 100 or more employees with up to 56 hours of paid leave annually for personal or family care, while employees at smaller businesses are entitled to only 40 hours per year.
The amendment would permit time off for service animals and pets kept legally for companionship, although the specific types of animals covered have yet to be determined.
This week, the legislation was forwarded to the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection, and if approved, it will take effect 120 days later.
