The New York State Dept. of Labor released updated guidance on paid time off for COVID-19 vaccinations. Under New York State law, employees are entitled to paid leave to received COVID-19 vaccinations. Employees are eligible for up to four hours of paid leave per vaccine injection, which now includes COVID-19 booster shots. Employers are prohibited from discriminating against employees for receiving COVID vaccinations and cannot require employees to use existing paid time off to cover the absence.
At this time, only certain individuals are eligible for COVID-19 boosters, including people 65 years or older, people with underlying medical conditions, and those who work or live in high-risk settings. People 18 years and older who received a Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine are eligible for a booster at least two months after their initial dose.
