Yesterday, New York State passed a budget deal that includes a plan for legislation to provide employees for up to 12 weeks of paid family leave. Eligible employees may take the leave to care for an infant or a family member with a serious health condition, or if a family member is called to active military service.
The bill has not yet been passed, but as part of the budget deal, the legislatures agreed to do so in the near future. The family leave plan is likely to start in 2018. The program will be fully funded through employee payroll deductions. Employees eligible to participate may do so after six months of employment. When on leave, employees will receive 50 percent of their average weekly wage, or 50 percent of the statewide average weekly wage, whichever is lower.
We will provide you with more details as they are released, including when the bill becomes official law.