Paid sick pay for pets? New York City Council bill could allow it – NBC New York

A new bill making its way through the New York City Council would, at the very least, take a major stress out of the city’s pet owners.

Legislation just introduced would allow people to use their own paid sick time to take their pets with them when needed. Supporters believe the bill would change a current law and help improve the mental health of city residents with pets.

Councilman Shaun Abreu, who represents parts of the Upper West Side and West Harlem, said the change does not specify which species would be covered, but only limits it to “legal pets” and “pets.”

“It is undeniable that we are facing a mental health crisis. And one of the best ways to address a mental health crisis is to make pet ownership easier, said Abreu, an owner of two cats.

If passed, the bill would amend the city’s current Earned Safe and Sick Time Act. This law guarantees employees in companies with more than 100 employees 56 hours of paid leave per year for personal illness or to care for a family member. Employees of smaller companies receive 40 hours.

The move would be almost unprecedented. Most companies only release their employees for personal or family reasons. Some employers across the country have voluntarily changed their policies in recent years to allow people to make time for pets’ needs, including bereavement.

But traditionally, asking your boss for a day off to go to the vet is usually uncharted territory.

“Pets are not people… I don’t know if you could take time off to care for your pet. “That’s far-fetched,” said Konrad Kuo of Montville, New Jersey, who owns a two-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi.

Others had a different opinion and equated it with parents taking a break for their children.

“I think that’s fair. Depends on how sick people are. People take time off to care for sick kids,” said Mia Toledo of Chelsea.

Only one small town near San Francisco has such a regulation – and even then, this law only applies to the care of service animals.