New York City: Difference between revisions

While pregnant adults are typically celebrated in American culture, there is often social stigma against teenage mothers, single mothers and poor mothers (the idea of the "welfare mom"). From a legal perspective, New York state doesn't have great maternity leave policies. For the period before birth, NY law allows women to be covered under temporary disability. Since they are unable to work, they are given partial wage replacement (50% of the employee's wages up to a weekly cap). But, once the child is born, there are no parental leave requirements in New York, exceptive for adoptive parents. Many employers offer some time off, due to the National Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which guarantees 12 weeks maternity leave. But the FLMA has loopholes (for example, it doesn't apply to companies with less than 50 employees). So, now New York is finally poised to change. In March 2016, the NY State Legislature finalized a budget deal that will include 12-week Parental Leave in New York for all full-time and part-time employees. These changes are set to go into effect in the coming years: up to 8 weeks of leave by January 1, 2018, up to 10 weeks of leave by January 1, 2019, and up to 12 weeks of leave by January 1, 2021.