New York Senate Bill S03945

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/30/25
• Refer: 1/30/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Requires employers to provide paid vacation time which is based on the length of time employees have been employed by such employers.

Summary

This bill would amend New York labor law to require every employer to offer paid vacation to eligible employees based on length of service. Employees working an average of 20 hours per week or more would become eligible after one year of employment for up to two weeks of paid vacation, after three years for up to three weeks, and after five years for up to four weeks. The bill also allows employers to provide more generous vacation benefits or broader paid leave policies if they choose. The measure sets several rules for how vacation must be administered. Employers could front-load the full annual vacation allotment at the start of the year, but could not later reduce or revoke it based on hours worked. Vacation requests could be subject to reasonable notice requirements, but not more than four weeks' notice. Vacation time would generally be taken in consecutive days, though employees entitled to more than one week could request non-consecutive use. The bill also prohibits employers from requiring work-related communication during vacation and allows employees, with employer consent, to forgo vacation in exchange for double wages for the equivalent time, paid before the end of the employment year.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would create a new section of the Labor Law, section 196-e, establishing a statewide minimum paid vacation entitlement for covered employees. It would affect employers across New York and expand employee leave rights beyond existing law by mandating paid vacation based on tenure rather than leaving vacation entirely to employer policy. The bill would also regulate employer scheduling and administration of vacation requests, anti-retaliation protections, and the treatment of unused vacation through a double-wage buyout option.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the overall sentiment appears supportive of expanding worker benefits and leave protections. The sponsors frame the proposal as a labor standard that guarantees paid vacation for eligible employees, suggesting a pro-worker policy approach. Because there is no recorded vote or transcript in the provided materials, there is no documented opposition or formal committee sentiment to assess.

Contention

The main points of potential contention are likely to be the mandate itself and the administrative constraints placed on employers. Employers may object to the cost of providing paid vacation, especially for smaller businesses, and to restrictions on revoking front-loaded vacation, limiting notice requirements, and prohibiting work-related contact during leave. Another possible issue is the bill’s eligibility threshold of 20 hours per week, which could be debated as either appropriately inclusive or too broad. The bill also creates a mandatory double-wage payout option for employees who forgo vacation with employer consent, which could raise questions about cost and implementation.