As coronavirus spreads, New York state is looking to pass legislation mandating paid sick leave for employees across New York.

Major employers are waiving attendance requirements and offering paid sick leave to employees.

Health insurance companies are waiving copays for diagnostic testing.

Note: This story has been updated to reflect new legislation in both the U.S. and New York state.

New York became the epicenter for one of the largest clusters of novel coronavirus cases in the nation this month, and state and federal legislators are moving fast to allow workers to stay home sick without employment repercussions.

In his State of State agenda in January, Cuomo proposed paid sick leave that would cover nearly all New York employees with at least five days of paid time off for illness. New York City enacted a similar bill in 2014.

On Wednesday, Cuomo signed a law guaranteeing paid sick leave for public and private employees in mandatory or precautionary quarantine over coronavirus concerns. The new law is separate from Cuomo's earlier proposal.

“I think it’s especially important that if the government is ordering a quarantine, even a voluntary quarantine, that places a personal hardship on a person and that person should get paid,” he said last week. “I don’t want to add to the burden that we’re creating.”

Who will this affect?

A quarter of U.S. workers are not provided paid sick leave as it is, and some don’t have the option of unpaid sick leave.

Many come to work while ill because they can’t afford to lose a paycheck; Of food industry workers surveyed in the U.S. and Canada in 2015, more than half go to work sick because they’re worried about income or supporting their coworkers, according to the Center for Research and Public Policy.

Those concerns are further highlighted as coronavirus measures, like mandated quarantines, event cancellations or school closures, become clearer possibilities across the state.

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Some food establishments, like banquet center Burgandy Basin near Rochester, Monroe County, already offer paid sick time to full-time employees, and make sure part-time employees are sent home without penalties if they're ill or in quarantine, as the case may be with coronavirus.

"Hopefully we’ve created a climate here that people know there are no repercussions if they call in," said co-owner Mike Clarcq, a past president of the New York State Restaurant Association.

Businesses are potentially facing a double whammy right now, given the general economic slump related to the coronavirus, plus the possibility of paying sick leave for employees and dealing with a potential shutdown in the coming weeks or months, said Benjamin Mudrick, who works with labor and employment issues at Rochester-based law firm Harter Secrest & Emery.

"If possible, all of my clients want to provide pay to employees if they have to be absent from work," Mudrick said. "The question is how do you strike that balance where the company could survive a shutdown of some sort, but also care for the employees?"

What are my rights under New York's new law?

The new legislation provides for up to 14 days of paid leave when an employee is subject to an order of quarantine or isolation.

Businesses who have 100 or more employees, and all government institutions, will be required to cover up to 14 days of paid leave.

Businesses who have between 11 and 99 employees as of Jan. 1, 2020, and businesses who have 10 or fewer employees and a net income greater than $1 million last fiscal year, will be required to provide five days of paid leave to their employees. The rest of the required quarantine or isolation days will be provided by New York State insurance programs, capped at benefits coverage equal to annual salaries of $150,000.

Businesses with 10 or fewer employees as of Jan. 1, 2020 and a net income under $1 million last fiscal year, will have the full cost of employee’s leave provided by New York State insurance programs, capped at benefits coverage equal to annual salaries of $150,000.

This bill protects salaried, part-time, and hourly employees if they are unable to work due to isolation or quarantine, as declared by a government official.

State paid sick leave mandates result in workers taking an average of two more sick days per year, meaning less of them are going to work while ill, according to a 2020 study by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Also, mandated paid sick leave does not significantly increase labor costs for employers or decrease employment or wage growth, the study found.

How are employers responding?

Microsoft and Amazon pledged to continue paying hourly workers like kitchen staff and janitors, even if their hours are reduced.

and pledged to continue paying hourly workers like kitchen staff and janitors, even if their hours are reduced. Walmart waived its attendance occurrence policy through the end of April, and encouraged employees to stay home if they feel ill. If a store location is included in a mandated quarantine radius, employees there will receive up to two weeks pay. If an employee contracts the coronavirus and must stay home, they will receive two weeks pay.

waived its attendance occurrence policy through the end of April, and encouraged employees to stay home if they feel ill. If a store location is included in a mandated quarantine radius, employees there will receive up to two weeks pay. If an employee contracts the coronavirus and must stay home, they will receive two weeks pay. Ride-share giants Uber and Lyft have said they will compensate drivers — Uber will do so for up to 14 days — if those drivers are diagnosed with coronavirus or quarantined by health authorities.

and have said they will compensate drivers — Uber will do so for up to 14 days — if those drivers are diagnosed with coronavirus or quarantined by health authorities. Instacart instituted a new sick pay policy Monday for all of its in-store shoppers nationwide, including part-time employees and independent contractors affected by coronavirus. Any part-time Instacart employee has access to sick pay and, if they’re diagnosed with coronavirus or placed in mandatory isolation or quarantine, they’re eligible for up to 14 days of pay.

instituted a new sick pay policy Monday for all of its in-store shoppers nationwide, including part-time employees and independent contractors affected by coronavirus. Any part-time Instacart employee has access to sick pay and, if they’re diagnosed with coronavirus or placed in mandatory isolation or quarantine, they’re eligible for up to 14 days of pay. Lockheed Martin has instructed any employee with potential exposure to work remotely or self-quarantine. International and domestic employee travel has been limited to what's necessary for business. Visitors to company locations have been limited.

has instructed any employee with potential exposure to work remotely or self-quarantine. International and domestic employee travel has been limited to what's necessary for business. Visitors to company locations have been limited. McDonald's and Darden Restaurants, which owns Olive Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse, announced new paid sick leave policies for employees this week.

What about insurance companies?

Vice President Mike Pence, who has been tasked with leading the national coronavirus task force, said in a White House meeting this month that major health insurers across the U.S. have agreed to waive copays on coronavirus testing and extend coverage for coronavirus treatment for all their benefit plans, according to the Associated Press.

Leaders from United Health, Humana, Anthem and other major insurance companies were present at the meeting.

The federal government announced in early March that Medicare, Medicaid and other federal healthcare programs would cover coronavirus testing. The Internal Revenue Service said Wednesday that high-deductible insurance plans could cover coronavirus testing even if a deductible has not been met. The choice to provide that option to customers is left to the insurer.

Some companies, such as Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, will waive prior authorizations for diagnostic tests and covered services that are medically necessary, according to the company’s website.

What else should I know about options for paid leave?

Under New York’s Paid Family Leave program, employees have up to 10 weeks of paid leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition. This leave may not be used for your own health condition.

program, employees have up to 10 weeks of paid leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition. This leave may not be used for your own health condition. The federal Family and Medical Leave Act provides for up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave if you have a serious health condition or are caring for a family member with a serious health condition. You must have worked for your employer for a year and your employer must have 50 or more employees.

provides for up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave if you have a serious health condition or are caring for a family member with a serious health condition. You must have worked for your employer for a year and your employer must have 50 or more employees. If you’re sick, you may be able to request unpaid leave as a reasonable accommodation under laws that prohibit disability discrimination.

What’s happening with paid sick leave nationally?

Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Reponse Act on Wednesday, which provides paid sick and family leave for coronavirus-related employment interruptions.

Eligible workers who are sick with the virus, quarantined, or taking care of someone affected will receive two weeks of pay from their employers, and up to 12 weeks of paid leave if they are caring for a child whose school has closed or whose childcare provider is unavailable due to coronavirus, according to the New York Times.

However, people who work at companies with more than 500 employees are not eligible; they make up 48% of the U.S. workforce, the Times wrote.

The paid leave will be offset by tax credits for eligible employers, and the law would offer an exemption to small businesses if paid leave requirements could jeopardize their business.

The law expires on Dec. 31.

Paid sick leave is mandated in 12 states and Washington, D.C. A number of cities and local jurisdictions have also passed laws around paid sick leave.

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Pence said this month that President Donald Trump’s administration is working to protect those who can’t afford to stop working, even while ill.

“When we tell people, 'If you're sick, stay home,' the president has tasked the team with developing economic policies that will make it very, very clear that we're going to stand by those hard-working Americans,” Pence said.

STADDEO@Gannett.com

Includes reporting from USA Today.

Sarah Taddeo is the consumer watchdog reporter for USA Today Network's New York State Team. She investigates stories about your consumer rights, including scams, negligent landlords, safety issues and wayward businesses.

Got a story tip or comment? Contact Sarah at STADDEO@Gannett.com or (585) 258-2774. Follow her on Twitter @Sjtaddeo. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a digital subscription.