NY State Paid Family Leave Comes Into Effect

Starting January 1, 2018, many New York workers will be eligible to take Paid Family Leave under New York’s new law. For those eligible, which includes full-time employees after 26 consecutive weeks of employment and part-time employees after 175 non-consecutive days of employment, there will be available up to eight weeks of leave time during which the employee will receive 50% of their weekly salary (capped at 50% of the state average). Both the amount of leave time and weekly salary percentage will increase in coming years.

During this time, an employee will have their job protected while they (1) bond with a newly born, adopted, or fostered child; (2) care for a close relative with a serious health condition; or (3) assist loved ones when a family member is deployed abroad on active military service.

The Paid Family Leave program is funded through deductions in employees’ paychecks, up to $85 per year.

In order to apply, employees should ask their employer for the appropriate forms, or visit https://www.ny.gov/new-york-state-paid-family-leave/paid-family-leave-information-employees. Please note that employees seeking Paid Family Leave must notify their employer at least 30 days before the leave will start, if it is foreseeable. Otherwise, the employer should be notified as soon as possible.