ALBANY — Public employees in New York are now protected from being punished for COVID-related absences.
Gov. Cuomo signed legislation Thursday that prevents government employers from dismissing or taking disciplinary or personnel actions against a public worker who fell ill with the virus.
That includes hundreds of New York City correction officers who were left with tarnished records after calling out sick amid the worst of the pandemic.
Last year, the Daily News highlighted the plight of nearly 900 correction officers who contracted the virus and had to appeal the Department of Correction’s “chronic absence” designation for missed days, which could impact promotions and other aspects of their careers.
Correction Officer Antonio Saltalamacchia, 34, who tested positive for coronavirus for more than three months in 2020 and missed dozens of days of work while dealing with related health issues, including a bout of pneumonia and asthma, detailed his plight in The News last year.
“I’m elated,” Saltalamacchia said Thursday. “I feel like this is a step forward towards something good. I’m happy that I actually spoke out and got something out of it.”
Sen. Diane Savino (D-Staten Island) introduced the measure last year in the wake of The News’ reporting, saying it was shocking to see officers punished for getting sick.
“For some workers, the idea of remote work is impossible, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our essential workforce, our first responders — police, fire, health care and corrections — just cannot do it by broadband,” Savino said.
The legislation, which retroactively covers public workers dating back to March 2020, prohibits public employers from penalizing employees who use sick leave or compensatory time to quarantine, seek medical treatment, or take other absences related to COVID.
Cuomo touted the new measure, saying it builds on other pandemic-related employee protections recently signed into law, including guaranteed paid leave for New Yorkers under mandatory or precautionary quarantine due to COVID, and guaranteed time off from work to receive the vaccine.
“No one should have to suffer a penalty for missing work because of COVID, and under this new law, every public employee in our state will get the protection they deserve — so they don’t have to face unfair consequences for doing what was necessary to protect themselves and their loved ones,” the governor said in a statement.
Union leaders applauded Cuomo, Savino and Assemblyman Peter Abbate (D-Brooklyn) for backing the bill.
“This legislation will correct the injustice experienced by over 800 of our members who were punished for taking sick leave because of their COVID-19 related symptoms,” said Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association President Benny Boscio.