Lawmakers in New York City are proposing a bill to provide paid sick leave for pet care. They plan to expand the Earned Safe and Sick Time Act, allowing New Yorkers to take time off to care for their pets and service animals.
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The bill, known as Introduction 1089, aims to support pet owners and promote better mental health by making it easier to attend to their pets’ needs without jeopardizing job security. “Keeping our pets healthy keeps us healthy,” said city council member Shaun Abreu. He referenced research indicating that pet ownership is linked to reduced stress, increased physical activity, and decreased social isolation, as reported by the New York Post.
If passed, it would make New York one of the few cities to extend pet care. Currently, only select cities, such as Emeryville, California, have a similar policy that allows employees to use sick leave to care for service animals.
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However, the proposed bill has critics, as there are concerns about rising costs for businesses and the concern that pet care leave could be exploited. “These benefits cost money, and it’s one thing if the employee is sick; it’s another thing if it’s a discretionary activity,” said Kathryn Wilde, president of the Partnership for New York.
News of the proposed bill went viral on social media as New Yorkers had different opinions about the extended sick leave policy.
