What New York Employers Need to Know About Paid Prenatal Leave

2025 is flying by so quickly, just a reminder to update employee handbooks. Be sure to include the information for Paid Prenatal Leave if in NY.

This is a new law in New York state that was effective January 1, 2025.

New York mandates that all private-sector employers provide at least 20 hours of paid leave annually for pregnant employees to attend prenatal medical appointments.

Employees are entitled to take Paid Prenatal Leave for prenatal health care appointments during or related to their pregnancy. Pregnancy-related health care appointments include physical examinations, medical procedures, monitoring, testing, discussions with a health care provider needed to ensure a healthy pregnancy, end of pregnancy care, fertility treatment.

Only the employee directly receiving prenatal health care may use Paid Prenatal Leave. A spouse, partner, or another support person attending prenatal appointments with a pregnant person is not entitled to Paid Prenatal Leave

New York is the first state to offer paid prenatal leave. For more information about Paid Prenatal Leave, including frequently asked questions, visit: New York State Paid Prenatal Leave .

For more information about Paid Leave and Employer of Record Services, please reach out to Strategic Contracting Services Inc via phone at 518-651-6008 or our contact form.