This Law Firm Publication by Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. discusses the New York law requiring employers to provide unpaid leave to volunteer emergency responders when the governor declares a state of emergency. An employee who provides written documentation from the head of his volunteer ambulance service or fire department confirming his status as a volunteer responder must be granted leave for the period in which he performs his emergency responder duties, unless it is an undue hardship for the employer. Once leave is granted, employers may request a statement from the volunteer ambulance service or fire department to certify the amount of time the employee spent responding to the emergency. The law became effective December 22, 2014.