NYS COVID-19 Paid Leave Ending July 31st

As of July 31, 2025, New York State’s COVID-19 Paid Leave law will officially expire. This law, enacted in March 2020, provided job-protected paid leave for employees subject to a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19.

After this date, employees will no longer be eligible for COVID-specific paid leave under this legislation and will need to use their available sick leave accruals when absent from work.

SUNY Niagara’s protocols for employees who experience symptoms of COVID-19 or test positive for the virus are:

• Employees who exhibit symptoms associated with COVID-19 before work should not report to work, but instead stay home and seek testing.
  • If your COVID-19 test result is negative, you may return to work when you are feeling better.
  • If your COVID-19 test result is positive, please remain home and do not report to work and notify your Supervisor.

• If an employee becomes sick with COVID-19 symptoms while at work, they should seek testing.  Home tests can be obtained in the Wellness Center on the Sanborn campus, or you may contact your healthcare provider.
  • Employees may return to work if the COVID-19 test has a negative result.

• Employees who test positive for COVID-19 must remain off campus and can return to work when both of the following conditions are met for at least 24 hours:
  • Symptoms are getting better overall AND
  • You have not had a fever (and are not using fever reducing medication).
    • It is the employee’s responsibility to make this determination
    • Employees are not required to re-test for COVID-19 to return to work.

After returning to work following a positive test, employees must wear a mask for 5 days when around others and take additional precautions such as limiting close contact with others.

If you have any questions please contact Jonathan Bellomo in Human Resources.