Is Fluffy not feeling well? New York City workers can get sick leave for caring for pets.

A New York City Council member plans to introduce a bill Wednesday that would allow workers to use paid sick leave to care for their pets.

The bill, authored by Councilman Sean Abreu, a Manhattan Democrat, would amend the Earned Safe and Sick Time Act so that paid sick leave that employees can take to care for themselves or family members could also be used for pets. as well as for service animals. .

Mr Abreu said the bill was intended to help address the city’s mental health crisis. “I think one of the easiest ways to support mental health is to encourage pet ownership,” Mr. Abreu said, adding, “Keeping our pets healthy keeps us healthy.”

He pointed to studies that show having a pet can reduce levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress. For example, owning a dog may also encourage people to engage in physical activity, which in turn may have a positive effect on depression and social isolation, he said.

The law comes at a time when roughly two-thirds of American homes report having at least one pet, according to industry group the American Pet Products Association. Americans spent $147 billion on their pets in 2023, including costs for veterinary care and over-the-counter medications, according to the group.

Katherine Wild, president of the influential business group Partnership of New York, expressed concerns about the potential costs to employers of expanding paid sick leave parameters. “These benefits cost money, and it’s one thing if an employee is sick and can’t come to work; It’s different if it’s a discretionary activity,” she said. “The concern is that this will ultimately create a pattern of increasing the cost of living and doing business in New York as costs are passed on to consumers.”