Paid Parental Leave Agreement Will Benefit 80 Percent of NYS Employee Workforce

M.C. Millman

On Tuesday, New York State announced a historic agreement to expand the Paid Parental Leave (PPL) program for New York State employees, which will benefit more than 80 percent of the State workforce. 

The agreement with the State and its three largest unions will provide 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave as it expands to cover more than 52,000 employees. 

If ratified, workers will be eligible to use the 12 weeks of fully paid leave to use for bonding with a newborn, fostered, or adopted child for the more than 52,000 employees encompassing CSEA members. Members include those in the Administrative Services Unit, Institutional Services Unit, Operational Services Unit, and the Division of Military and Naval Affairs Unit who meet the eligibility criteria.

The new PPL announcement builds on the policy extended to more than 10,000 unrepresented State workers providing the majority of State workers access to the PPL benefit for the first time in State history.

Additionally, the New York State Department of Labor will launch a statewide Paternity Leave Awareness Campaign. The campaign will focus on raising awareness about the benefits available to new parents while highlighting how paternity leave can positively impact families and the career and salary prospects of women earners.

Despite the well-documented positive benefits of paid parental leave to maternal and infant health, as well as family economic security and workforce retention, the United States is the only developed country in the world without a national paid parental leave policy.