By Susan Schoenfeld, JD
As employers scramble to manage the recent onslaught of paid sick leave legislation in the states and locally, a new paid leave trend may be emerging—paid family leave.
 |
Recently, New York state passed a paid family leave law under which, beginning in 2018, eligible employees will be paid 50% of their average weekly wage for up to 8 weeks. When fully implemented in 2021, the law will entitle eligible employees to up to 12 weeks of leave paid at 67% of their average weekly wage.
At about the same time New York’s paid family leave law was passed, California’s Governor, Jerry Brown, signed a bill that will increase the amount of wage replacement payable under the state’s paid family leave (PFL) law. Beginning January 1, 2018, qualified employees will be eligible to receive up to 70% of their weekly wages from the state during a qualifying leave of absence.