New Yorkers Will Have Nation’s Best Paid Family Leave In 2018

Beginning January 1, 2018, we will have the Nation's most comprehensive and progressive Family Leave plan in place.

Governor Cuomo's office made the announcement that beginning in the new year, if you live in New York you will get job-protected paid time off for several family-related issues.

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.

When the plan is fully phased in in 2021, we will have the option of up to 12 weeks of paid leave paid at 67% of an employee's average weekly wage up to 67% of the New York State Average Weekly Wage.

As of 2018, the first stages of the plan grant us up to 8 weeks off at 50% of their average weekly wage up to 50% of the New York State Average Weekly Wage.

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.

The leave will be funded by employees through payroll deductions.

In 2018, the employee contribution is 0.126% of an employee's weekly wage, capped at 0.126%of the New York State Average Weekly Wage. The program is mandatory for nearly all private employers. Public employers have the option of opting into the program.

You can find more information on New York State's new Paid Family Leave, including statements from Governor Cuomo and Lt. Governor Cathy Hochul on Governor Cuomo's website.

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