NY LAW ALERT - Employers should be aware that a bill updating the Paid Family Leave Act that will call for 12 weeks of bereavement leave for a death in the family is headed to the Governor's desk.
If signed into law by Governor Cuomo, it would mean that any employee who loses a spouse, child, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent or grandchild could take off work and get paid for up to three months. If the law passes it would be implemented in phases beginning in the year 2020. Over time, eligible employees can collect between 50 to 67 percent of the state's average weekly wage but that average cannot exceed the state average, which is currently $652.96. The law also guarantees a worker the same or comparable job when they return from leave, and bars employers from cutting off health insurance.
The current Paid Family Leave Act in New York was implemented January 1, 2018 and is the nation's most comprehensive Paid Family Leave Policy. The policy, being phased in over four years, currently provides employees of most private companies with eight weeks paid time off (in 2018) to take care of a newborn, a sick relative or if a military family member is deployed with employees able to get 12 weeks of paid time off at 67 percent of their weekly wage by 2021. You can get more information regarding the current policy here.
Let us know your thoughts on this bill and how it might affect you.
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Gregg Perez combines his love and passion to help law firms, start-ups, and companies of varying size reach their best potential with the experience gained from working with Fortune 500 companies, law firms, and start-ups. As a Director, Administrator, COO, VP and consultant, he brings years of consulting and real life experience to the table for his clients.