Be in the know: New rules on leave

Covered employers

All employers are covered.

Coverage options

• A policy written by an approved carrier in NY state (including the NY State Insurance Fund, an insurance company created by the state of NY which operates under the same premise as all other approved disability benefit carriers in NY)
• Through participation in a workers’ compensation board-approved union, association or trust
• Approved as a self-insured employer by the self-insurance unit of the worker’s compensation board

Cost

Paid medical leave:

0.5% of first $120 of weekly wages up to a maximum of $0.60 per week. Employer will fund the additional cost of the plan above the employee maximum limit. The employer can pay all or part of the employee contribution.

Paid family leave:

Effective January 1, 2026, the percentage will increase to 0.432% of the employee's gross wage with an annual maximum of $411.91. Funded 100% by employees unless employer chooses to pay all or part of the contribution.

Employee eligibility

Paid medical leave:

Employee must have worked at least four weeks in New York for the same covered employer.

Paid family leave:

Full-time employees will be eligible for coverage after 26 consecutive weeks of employment with the same covered employer. Part-time employees working less than 20 hours per week will be eligible after 175 work days of covered NY employment for the same covered employer.

Leave reasons

Caring for a family member, bonding, medical and qualifying exigency

Job protection

NY PFL is job-protected, and NY PML is not job-protected.

Other protections and provisions

Payment does not cover partial intermittent absences.

Benefits

Paid medical leave:

• 50% of average weekly wage to $170 maximum weekly benefit
• 26 week maximum, seven-day waiting period

Paid family leave:

• 67% of average weekly wage. The maximum weekly benefit is $1,228.53.
• 12 week maximum. No waiting period. Combined PFL and PML: 26 week maximum