Beginning January 1, 2018, New York will join ranks with California, New Jersey, and Rhode Island as the only states in the nation to institute a Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefit. When the benefit is fully phased in, New York will have the most comprehensive and robust Paid Family Leave program in the US.
The new PFL program provides New York employees the opportunity to bond with a child after birth, care for a sick relative, or help relieve the burden when a family member is called to active military service. The law will not only give employees the right to a leave of absence to care for a family member but will also guarantee job protection, as well as the right to continue health insurance by paying the premiums while on leave. Participation in the program is mandatory for all private employers while public employers may opt in. When it begins, PFL will cover births and adoptions that have occurred within the last 12 months — including those that occurred in 2017.
For more information, please view our e-Alert.