In March 2021, New York, California, and Illinois began to require or advise that employees receive paid time off for COVID-19 vaccinations. Earlier, on March 8, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued its first recommendations for fully vaccinated individuals and have subsequently supplemented its guidance.

Paid Time Off for Vaccinations

New York. On March 12, 2021, New York enacted a law granting public and private employees in New York up to four hours of paid leave to receive a COVID-19 vaccine injection. Employees who receive a two-dose vaccination are eligible for up to four hours for each dose. Employees are paid at their regular rate of pay during this leave time. Leave taken under this new law cannot be charged against any other entitled leave, but under certain circumstances, may be waived by unions through collective bargaining. Discrimination and retaliation against employees for exercising their rights under this law are prohibited. This law is effective immediately and is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2022.