Paid Family Leave for Bonding with New Baby

With paid family leave, parents can take job-protected, paid time off to bond with their newborn within the first 12 months of their child’s birth. They must meet the minimum time worked requirements. See the requirements below.

 
Most employees who work for private employers in New York State are eligible to take paid family leave. See the eligibility requirements below.

• Full-time employees: Employees who work a regular schedule of 20 or more hours per week are eligible after 26 consecutive weeks.
• Part-time employees: Employees who work a regular schedule of less than 20 hours per week are eligible after working 175 days, which do not need to be consecutive. Employees with irregular schedules should look at their average schedule to determine if they work fewer than 20 hours per week on average.
• Citizenship and immigration status are not factors in employee eligibility.
• Employees who work for public employers may be covered for Paid Family Leave if their employer has voluntarily opted in to provide the benefit. Union-represented public employees may be covered if the benefit has been negotiated through collective bargaining.

 
How to Apply (steps)
You can take leave all at once or on separate days, but it must be in full-day increments. If you know that you need leave, tell your employer at least 30 days before it starts. If you cannot foresee the need for leave, inform your employer as soon as possible. If you work more than one job, you can take Paid Family Leave from both jobs, but you must request it from both employers at the same time. Make sure to collect all forms and documents you need. Complete them, attach the necessary paperwork, and submit everything to the insurance carrier.
 
*Find your employer’s insurance carrier visiting wcb.ny.gov/content/ebiz/icempcovsearch/icempcovsearch_overview.jsp. Otherwise, ask your supervisor or, if applicable, your employer’s Human Resources or payroll department.
 
For more information, visit paidfamilyleave.ny.gov/bonding-leave-birth-child or call the Paid Family Leave Helpline for assistance at (844) 337-6303 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
 
Updated on November 18, 2024