New York May Soon Have Paid Pet Sick Time, Could it Come to Maine, New Hampshire, & Massachusetts?

With the exception of Cruella DeVille, most of us would agree that our pets are members of our family.  They are our companions when we are home, many act as a four-legged security system when we are away, and they are always eager to be our snuggle buddies.

The illness or death of a cherished pet is sometimes as bad as the passing of a human family member.

It is heartbreaking but can be absolutely devastating if the pet has been a member of the family for a long time.

Most compassionate companies will allow an employee to use their PTO to take care of an ill pet or to grieve for their recently deceased one.

However, one eastern state is considering making paid pet sick time a legal right.

Pet Sick Leave in New York City

According to an article on the NBC New York website, in October of 2024, a new bill was proposed that would require employers in New York City to allow employees the ability to use their paid sick time to take care of their pets.

If it is signed into law, it means that workers in New York City could choose to use their sick days to take care of sick pets or use that time to grieve for a pet that has crossed the rainbow bridge.

You can read the text of the bill HERE.

It would be the first law of its kind.  There is a similar law in a town near San Francisco, but that only allows you to use the time to deal with service animals.  The vagueness of this law makes it look like you can use it to care for any animal that is ill or has passed.

Could We Soon See Paid Sick Time For Pets in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire?

While there has been no talk of this yet, it would not surprise us.  There have been plenty of instances where policies established in California or New York were implanted in New England.

Opponents of the idea will tell you that it is silly.  They’ll also tell you that, if a person has a lot of pets, it could become disruptive to the workplace.

It is important to remember that, at least in New York, the days off would be pulled from the employee’s pool of sick time.  Because of this, it does not look like a person would be able to abuse the perk.

What are your thoughts on the idea?  Would you be for it?  Or, is your workplace so ‘chill’ that they have no problem with you taking advantage of sick time taking care of a pet?

Pet Bereavement in New York

There is also a rumor floating around that New York lawmakers want to institute a policy that would also allow employees to take three paid days off to grieve for a pet that has passed away.

We have not been able to find a credible source where this is mentioned.

If you have seen mention of it online, please share it with us by sending a message through our app.