Bill de Blasio signed his first bill into law as mayor Thursday, extending the right to paid sick leave to half a million more New Yorkers.
Earlier this year, de Blasio and Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito announced the bill, which will apply to all workers at businesses with five or more employees. The City Council approved it on Feb. 26.
“This law is the first of many steps we are taking to fundamentally address inequality in this city, and make this a city where everyone rises together, the mayor said. “Today is truly a historic day that takes us one step closer toward that goal.”
The law takes effect April 1, and extends on previous legislation that gave the right to business with 15 or more employees.
It also removes exemptions for the manufacturing sector, and adds grandparents, grandchildren and siblings to the definition of family members, and cut out legislative red tape that could have delayed paid sick leave.
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