New York Becomes the First State to Mandate Paid Prenatal Leave

New York Governor Kathy Hochul released the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget, which includes some new updates for employers.  Included in the FY 2025 budget, New York employers will now need to provide employees 20 hours of paid prenatal healthcare leave in addition to their 12 weeks of paid family leave.  This makes New York the first state in the nation to mandate an entitlement to paid prenatal leave. This  will be effective on January 1, 2025. 

Additionally, following child birth, employees have been guaranteed 30 minutes of unpaid break time to express breast milk at work for up to three years following childbirth. Under this law, employers are required to provide private pumping spaces in the workplace.  Under the requirements, the private pumping spaces must include: a table, seating, a light, electricity and access to clean running water, and must not be a bathroom.

For further support in compliance with these laws, clients of myHRcounsel should open a ticket in our Ask an Attorney portal.  Contact us at: info@myhrcounsel.com if you have any questions.