News & Events

news & events / 12.30.24 /Jack Malley

New York’s New Paid Leave for Prenatal Care Law Effective January 1, 2025

Beginning January 1, 2025, New York employers must provide employees with 20 hours of paid leave annually for prenatal care appointments or other pregnancy-related needs. The key provisions of the new law are as follows:

• Every employer, regardless of the number of employees, is required to provide this benefit.
• Leave can be used for healthcare services received by an employee during or related to their pregnancy, including physical examinations, medical procedures, monitoring and testing, and consultations with a healthcare provider.
• Leave may be taken in hourly increments, and benefits must be paid in hourly installments.
• Employees will be compensated at their regular rate of pay or the applicable minimum wage, whichever is greater.
• Employers are not required to pay employees for unused paid prenatal leave upon an employee’s termination, resignation, retirement, or other separation from employment.
• Employees are entitled to the full 20 hours of leave immediately, regardless of their length of employment, and are not required to accrue leave hours to access this benefit.

Employers should update their policies accordingly and notify employees of the new law.