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New York Paid Family Leave Changes

By September 23, 2019PFL

Image result for paid family leave With the start of Fall right around the corner, we begin to look ahead to the Paid Family Leave (PFL) changes for 2020.

More covered employees.

Governor Cuomo recently signed legislation to expand access to Paid Family Leave to workers who provide farm labor.  In 2020, farm laborers and other eligible employees will have access to 10 weeks of job protected, paid time off to bond with a new child, care for a family member with a serious health condition, or assist loved ones when a family member is deployed abroad on active military service.

The number of weeks employees can take will continue to rise through 2021, at which time employees will be able to take up to 12 weeks of job-protected, paid time off to be there for family.

More financial security.

Additional Paid Family Leave changes include an increase in the wage replacement benefit. In 2020, employees taking PFL will receive 60% of their average weekly wage, up to a cap of 60% of the current Statewide Average Weekly Wage of $1,401.17. The maximum weekly benefit for 2020 is $840.70.

 

Same strong protections.

With some of the nation’s strongest worker protections, New York Paid Family Leave guarantees that:

  • Employees have job protection, ensuring they can return to the same job (or a comparable one) when they return from Paid Family Leave.
  • Employees can keep their health insurance while on leave on the same terms they had while working.
  • Employers are prohibited from discriminating or retaliating against employees for requesting or taking PFL.

Fully-funded by employees.

New York Paid Family Leave is insurance that may be funded by employees through payroll deductions. In 2020, the contribution is 0.270% of an employee’s gross wages each pay period. The maximum annual contribution is $196.72.

Employees earning less than the current Statewide Average Weekly Wage of $1,401.17 will contribute less than the annual cap of $196.72, consistent with their actual wages.

For example employees earning:

  1. $519 a week ($27,000 a year) will pay about $1.40 per week: $519 x 0.270%.
  2. $1,000 a week ($52,000 a year) will pay $2.70 per week: $1,000 x 0.270%.
  3. The State Average Weekly Wage of $1,401.17 ($72,860.84 a year) or more will pay 0.270% x their gross wages each pay period until they reach the maximum of $196.72.

 

For more information on PFL and Disability Insurance, call the experts at The Flanders Group.  You can dial 1-800-462-6435 or email us at [email protected].