Pursuant to the New York Paid Prenatal Leave Law (the “PPL Law”), beginning on January 1, 2025, New York employers must provide employees with 20 hours of paid leave for prenatal healthcare service appointments during their pregnancy or related to pregnancy (“Paid Prenatal Leave”) in a 52-week period. The PPL Law amends the New York State Sick Leave Law.

Paid Prenatal Leave can be used for prenatal health care services including physical examinations, medical procedures, monitoring and testing, and fertility treatment or care appointments, including in vitro fertilization. Paid Prenatal Leave may only be used by the employee directly receiving prenatal health care services, and employers cannot require employees to submit documentation to support the need for Paid Prenatal Leave.

The New York Department of Labor recently issued anticipated guidance (the “FAQs”) regarding the PPL Law.

The FAQs clarify that Paid Prenatal Leave is a separate benefit from paid sick leave and leave provided by other employment policies, meaning that employers must provide 20 hours of Paid Prenatal Leave in addition to the leave the employer already provides. While prenatal health care appointments may be covered by New York paid sick leave, Paid Prenatal Leave, or another leave policy, the FAQs note that “an employer cannot require an employee to choose one leave type over another or require an employee to exhaust one type of leave before using Paid Prenatal Leave.”

The new Paid Prenatal Leave requirements apply to all private-sector employers regardless of size, and all employees are eligible, regardless of how long they have worked for the employer or their part-time or exempt status. Further, Paid Prenatal Leave does not accrue. Employees are automatically entitled to the full 20 hours of Paid Prenatal Leave, and the 52-week period for an employee begins the first time an employee uses Paid Prenatal Leave. Similar to New York paid sick leave, employers have no obligation to pay departing employees for any unused Paid Prenatal Leave benefits.

New York employers should prepare for the start of Paid Prenatal Leave by updating their policies and informing HR, benefits, and other stakeholders about the new benefit and how to administratively respond to requests. 

Print:
Email this postTweet this postLike this postShare this post on LinkedIn
Photo of Lindsay Burke Lindsay Burke

Lindsay Burke co-chairs the firm’s Employment Practice Group and regularly advises U.S., international, and multinational employers on employee management and culture issues and international HR compliance. She is a key member of the firm’s Institutional Culture and Social Responsibility practice, working together with…

Lindsay Burke co-chairs the firm’s Employment Practice Group and regularly advises U.S., international, and multinational employers on employee management and culture issues and international HR compliance. She is a key member of the firm’s Institutional Culture and Social Responsibility practice, working together with white collar colleagues to conduct culture assessments, internal investigations of executive misconduct, and civil rights and racial equity audits and assessments. Lindsay has been at the forefront of the changing workplace issues impacting employers in the U.S. in the last decade, including #MeToo, Covid-19, and the renewed focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. She frequently advises employers in relation to their processes and procedures for investigating complaints of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation and trains executive teams and board members on culture risk and the lawful implementation of DEI programs.

Lindsay also guides employers through the process of hiring and terminating employees and managing their performance, including the drafting and review of employment agreements, restrictive covenant agreements, separation agreements, performance plans, and key employee policies and handbooks. She provides practical advice against the backdrop of the web of state and federal employment laws, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the False Claims Act, with the objective of minimizing the risk of employee litigation. When litigation looms, Lindsay relies on her experience as an employment litigator to offer employers strategic advice and assistance in responding to demand letters and agency charges.

Lindsay works frequently with the firm’s privacy, employee benefits and executive compensation, corporate, government contracts, and cybersecurity practice groups to ensure that all potential employment issues are addressed in matters handled by these groups. She also regularly provides U.S. employment law training, support, and assistance to start-ups, non-profits, and foreign parent companies opening affiliates in the U.S.

Read more about Lindsay BurkeEmail
Show more Show less
Photo of Evan Parness Evan Parness

Evan represents employers and senior executives in non-compete, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, ERISA, and business tort litigation in state and federal courts, administrative agencies, and alternative dispute resolution bodies. He has secured significant trial and appellate victories for clients, including complete dismissals of discrimination…

Evan represents employers and senior executives in non-compete, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, ERISA, and business tort litigation in state and federal courts, administrative agencies, and alternative dispute resolution bodies. He has secured significant trial and appellate victories for clients, including complete dismissals of discrimination and retaliation lawsuits, successful verdicts following trial, and injunctive relief on behalf of clients enforcing restrictive covenants.

Evan also counsels established and emerging companies on compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, and litigation avoidance measures in connection with all aspects of workplace employment issues. He conducts sensitive internal investigations of alleged discrimination and harassment, and assists employers in shaping workplace policies to comply with law and promote a productive working environment.

Evan advises leading companies on the labor and employment aspects of significant business transactions and acquisitions. He negotiates employment-related provisions in business transaction documents and oversees due diligence of a potential target’s employment practices. He also counsels clients on executive employment and restrictive covenants agreements.

Chambers USA notes “Evan is an exceptional and talented lawyer. He possesses a deep understanding of the law and an unwavering commitment to his clients. He has a keen eye for detail and can dissect complex legal issues with remarkable efficiency. His thorough and methodical approach to each case ensures that no stone is left unturned, providing his clients with the best possible legal representation.”

The Legal 500 US notes that clients have commented that “Evan Parness is an amazing attorney. Always attentive and will take instructions outside of business hours, he is always there when we need him and looks for the best outcome for clients.”

Read more about Evan ParnessEmail
Show more Show less
Photo of Michelle Barineau Michelle Barineau

Michelle Barineau counsels U.S. and multinational clients on a broad range of employment issues. Michelle routinely provides guidance pertaining to wage and hour compliance, job classifications, pay equity, and employee leave. She also prepares key employment documents including employment agreements, employee policies, and…

Michelle Barineau counsels U.S. and multinational clients on a broad range of employment issues. Michelle routinely provides guidance pertaining to wage and hour compliance, job classifications, pay equity, and employee leave. She also prepares key employment documents including employment agreements, employee policies, and separation agreements.

Michelle guides employers through hiring and terminating employees and managing their performance, as well as workforce change strategies, including reorganizations, reductions in force, and WARN compliance. In addition, Michelle provides practical advice about workplace issues impacting employers including remote work, workplace culture, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace. She helps clients navigate matters involving harassment, discrimination, non-competition, and other issues arising under state and federal employment laws including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act. She assists clients when responding to agency charges and demand letters, including whistleblower retaliation complaints, and frequently interacts with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, state and local equal employment opportunity agencies, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Michelle has experience investigating employment complaints and she frequently partners with white collar colleagues to conduct sensitive internal investigations, workplace culture assessments, and racial equity audits. She works with colleagues in the privacy, employee benefits and executive compensation, and corporate groups when employment matters arise and she regularly works with colleagues in California to advise on matters implicating California employment laws. Michelle is a co-founder of Covington’s AI Roundtable, which convenes senior lawyers at the firm working closely on AI issues to discuss legal implications of AI deployment and use.

Read more about Michelle BarineauEmail
Show more Show less