In last year’s state budget, lawmakers approved a paid family leave benefit that becomes effective on January 1, 2018. The paid leave benefit allows employees to take up to eight weeks of time (in 2018) to bond with a new child, care for a loved one with a serious health condition or to help relieve family pressures when someone is called to active military service. The program will be funded by employee contributions only, but employers will be required to offer and administer the benefit.
Earlier this year, the State Workers’ Compensation Board published proposed regulations NFIB/NY submitted comments to the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board regarding the proposed regulations. Some concerns that we outlined included: Compliance costs for employers that do not have human resources departments, professional employer organization, or other entity that performs these tasks; vague time tracking requirements; additional written policy mandates; arbitration fees paid by the employer; unemployment experience ratings negatively impacted by replacement workers; and excessive penalties and fines.
