New York Paid Family Leave Update

November 30, 2022

Beginning January 1, 2023, New York will expand its coverage under the Paid Family Leave law.

Under the current law, qualified employees working in the private sector are eligible to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave to care for family members, defined to include spouses, domestic partners, children (including step-children), parents, grandparents, grandchildren, and in-laws.

Beginning January 1, 2023, that group will expand to include siblings, including biological siblings, step-siblings, half-siblings, and adopted siblings.

Now is an excellent time for employers to revisit employee handbooks and policies and make the necessary updates to these documents to reflect this change. Many employers use the end of the year as an annual checkpoint to review all employee policies and address any updates, edits or revisions that need to be made.

It is advisable to make sure employees always have a copy of the newest employee handbook and have signed off on receipt of it (even if it is an electronic version). This can potentially offer some protection for the employer in the event there is a situation down the road where an employee has violated a workplace policy and the employer desires to take action to reprimand or terminate the employee.

You can learn more about the updated Paid Family Medical Leave Law here.

Kevin Burke’s practice includes wide ranging federal and state court experience in civil litigation within employment law, environmental defense, class actions, product liability defense, corporate dissolution and shareholder disputes, and “business divorce,” breach of contract, OSHA and insurance coverage disputes.

Kevin counsels employers on recent developments in employment law, and the implementation of policies and procedures which enable employers to be in compliance with federal and state laws. He can be reached at 716-854-4300 ext. 292 or [email protected]