Effective January 2018, NYS will enact a 12-week Paid Family Leave (PFL) program.
Paid Family Leave
A family member is defined as a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, spouse or domestic partner. “Serious health condition” is almost identical to the definition under the FMLA. The employer has the option to allow the PFL benefit must NOT to run concurrently with any FMLA entitlement. The program will be run under the NYSDisability Benefits Law (DBL). This will enable all eligible private sector workers, the right to a leave of absence and guaranteed reinstatement.
To be eligible one must be employed in New York State and have 30 working days total within a calendar year for a single employer. There is no waiting period and employees may receive up to 50% of their average weekly wage during family leave, not to exceed 50% of the state average weekly wage.
Eligible employees employed for at least 26 weeks with the employer (175 days for part-time employees) may use PFL for the following:
• Caring for a family member with a serious physical/mental health condition.
• Bonding with a new child during the first 12 months after the child’s birth or after placement of a child for adoption/ foster care.
• Handling obligations arising from a family member’s qualifying military service or deployment as interpreted under FMLA.
Read more about PFL here: http://eepurl.com/cKgIvT
A note to Employer and Employee alike. This program is fund by EMPLOYEE ONLY payroll deductions.
