Come January 1st, New York will launch the Paid Family Leave policy.
Under the policy, New Yorkers will have job-protected paid time off for a new child, care for a loved on with a serious health issue, or help to relieve family pressures when a loved one is called into active military duty abroad.
According to Governor Andrew Cuomo's office, New Yorkers will be eligible for up to 12 weeks of paid time off when the policy is fully phased in.
"Our strongest-in-the-nation Paid Family Leave policy will ensure that no one has to choose between losing a job and missing the birth of a child or being able to spend time with a loved one in their final days," Governor Cuomo said. "This will help improve the lives of workers across this great state and I am proud to enact this landmark legislation to help move New York forward."
Those eligible for Paid Family Leave include:
- Parents during the first 12 months following the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child;
- Caretakers for a sick spouse, domestic partner, child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, parent-in-law, grandparent or grandchild;
- Employees with a spouse, child, domestic partner or parent who has been notified of an order of active military service abroad.
Full-time employees with a regular schedule of 20 or more hours a week will be eligible for Paid Family Leave after 26 consecutive weeks of employment. Part-time employees with a regular schedule of less than 20 hours a week can apply for Paid Family Leave after working 175 days for their employer.
Insurance Coverage: Paid Family Leave coverage will typically be included as a rider to an employer's existing disability insurance policy, and will be fully funded by employees through payroll deductions.
In 2018, the employee contribution is 0.126 percent of an employee's weekly wage, capped at 0.126 percent of the New York State Average Weekly Wage.
The program is mandatory for nearly all private employers. Public employers may opt into the program.
Paid Family Leave will be phased in over four years.
