NEW YORK – A new bill moving through the New York City Council would eliminate at least one major problem for the city’s pet owners.
The legislation just introduced would allow people to use their own paid sick time to care for their pets when needed. Supporters believe the bill would change 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 amendment does not specify which species would be covered, limiting it only to “legal pets.” and “companion animals“.
“There is no doubt that we are facing a mental health crisis. And one of the best ways to deal with a mental health crisis is to make pet ownership easier,” said Abreu, owner of two cats.
If passed, the bill would change the city’s current Sick Pay and Safe Time law. That law guarantees employees at companies with more than 100 employees 56 hours of paid leave each year for personal sick leave or to care for a family member. Employees of small companies are entitled to 40 hours.
The measurement would be unique. Most companies allow their employees to take time off for personal or family reasons. Some employers across the country have voluntarily changed policies in recent years to allow people to take time off for pet needs, including grief.
But traditionally, asking your boss to take a day off to go to the vet is an unknown issue.
“Pets are not people… I don’t know if you could take time off to take care of your pet. That’s too much,” said Konrad Kuo of Montville, New Jersey, at have a 2 year old Welsh Corgi in Pembroke. .
Others disagreed and compared it to parents taking time off to care for their children.
“I guess it’s fair. It depends on how sick they are. People take time off for sick kids,” said Mia Toledo of Chelsea.
There is only one small town near San Francisco that has a similar law in effect, and even then, that law only applies to the care of service animals.
2024-10-24 02:33:00
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