New York: Paid Leave

Until now, within the U.S., only California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Washington have had paid family leave statutes, none of which offers benefits longer than six weeks. New York now joins those states offering a paid family leave program for its workers, but New York's program will be the most robust, providing 12 full weeks of job-protected leave. Both the benefit amount and length of paid family leave will be gradually phased in beginning in 2018.

Specifically, New York employees will be eligible for paid leave under the New York paid family leave law:

• to provide care for a family member made necessary by a serious health condition;
• to bond with their child during the first 12 months after birth or after the placement of the child with the employee for adoption or foster care; and