The New York State Paid Family Leave, which was launched in 2018, has been providing critical benefits to thousands of New York workers. After the initial four-year phase, the New York Paid Family Leave program has been successfully realized – the benefits are now at the target levels. Starting from January 1st, 2022, domestic workers who are employed directly by private homeowners and work for at least 20 hours a week will be eligible for the Paid Family Leave if they've worked continually for 26 weeks.
Workers eligible for New York State Paid Leave can enjoy paid time off for up to 12 weeks. The leave can be taken if an employee needs to support a family member who has a severe health problem or needs to assist loved ones while a family member is providing active military service abroad. Employees can incrementally use their paid leave days by taking full day-offs or taking it all at once. Employees may also benefit from the Paid Family Leave when either they or their dependent and minor child is required to self-isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19.
An employee on Paid Family Leave can receive 67% of their weekly average wage and up to 67% of the SAWW (Statewide Average Weekly Wage). The SAWW for 2022 is 1,594.57, and thus the workers can get a maximum weekly benefit of $1,068.36 –which is $96.75 more than the 2021 maximum weekly benefit.
| Employee's Average Weekly Wage | Weekly PFL Benefits (@67%) |
|---|---|
| $500 | $335 |
| $2000 | $1,068.36 |
Workers in New York can take time off from work to support their loved ones knowing that there are fully protected by the law. New York has some of the most vital worker protection policies in the country. The New York Paid Family Leave comes with the following guarantees:
Workers enjoy job protection, which means they can resume their previous jobs (or equivalent ones) once they return from their paid family leave.
When on paid leave, workers can enjoy all the benefits that come with their health insurance coverage without any changes to the terms.
Employers are barred from retaliating or discriminating against employees for taking or requesting Paid Family Leave.
Citizenship is never a consideration for eligibility for Paid Family Leave. Additionally, eligible workers can benefit from Paid Family Leave regardless of where they live and where their employer's main office is based. Therefore, if you're an eligible New York worker who lives, say, in Pennsylvania, you are allowed to take your NYS Paid Family Leave in Pennsylvania.
Paid Family Leave in NYS is insurance workers can fund through deductions from their wages. The contribution is slightly over a half of one percent of the employees' daily wages. In 2022, the cap for annual contribution is $423.71. The contributions for workers who earn less than the $1,594.57 SAWW (Statewide Average Weekly Wage) will be less than this year's maximum contribution of $423.71, consonant with their actual wages. For instance, an employee who earns $519 weekly will pay around $2.65 weekly. When on paid leave, the employee will be eligible for $347.73 weekly and up to $4,172.76 in maximum total benefits.
At Tompkins Insurance Agencies, our experts will help you get the right paid family leave coverage for your needs. Additionally, we can help you create a customized employee benefits program for your business. To get started, contact us today.
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