New York is the first state to require employers to offer paid prenatal leave

New York will become the first state to require employers to provide an additional 20 hours of paid leave to pregnant employees for pregnancy-related medical care without requiring employees to use time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act, saving that time . for after the baby is born.

The policy, announced as part of the state budget for the fiscal year 2025, will come into effect on January 1 and applies only to private sector companies.

The benefit amount is lower than what Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) proposed in January, when she proposed an additional 40 hours of paid leave for pregnant workers to cover prenatal medical appointments, tests or other necessary care. The leave can be taken in parts of an hour.

“No one should ever have to fear seeking care because of the costs involved or the time missed at work,” the governor said.

Hochul’s office previously noted that under existing state law, maternity disability benefits do not start until four weeks before the child’s birth, and then only after a seven-day waiting period.

By adding prenatal leave “as a separate qualifying event under the statewide Paid Family Leave policy, pregnant workers can ensure their medical needs are met without sacrificing their ability to maintain a household, or whether paid leave is available for bonding after birth,” the spokesperson said. office stated.

The prenatal leave policy is part of the governor’s broader plan to address maternal and infant mortality in New York.

Attorney Melissa Camire, a partner at Fisher Phillips, encouraged New York business owners to consider updating their policies and procedures to meet state requirements.

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