Recently, the New York State Legislature promised a minimum wage hike to $15 an hour and has mandated paid family leave time for the majority of New York workers. Experts say this is the nation’s most comprehensive bill that impacts families and employees in the workplace. New York is now one of five other states in the United States to mandate paid leave, which is considered the most robust form of the family leave measure. The New York program will mandate up to 12 weeks of paid time off from a job to bond with a newborn child or to care for a seriously ill spouse, parent, child, domestic partner or other family loved one. It can include adopted or foster children, too. An experienced employment law attorney can explain how these new changes and laws in New York may impact you.

Workplace Leave Prior to The New Laws

Prior to the passage of the new law, New Yorkers were only protected by the Family and Medical Leave Act. The Family and Medical Leave Act allows some employers to provide job protection for certain employees who need to take time off for family emergencies. The Family and Medical Leave Act does not guarantee that these workers will be paid for their time off. It also requires that an employee seeking job protection be employed by the company for more than one year. It only covers workers who have worked a specific amount of hours in the previous year. More importantly, the Family and Medical Leave Act does not include companies with fewer than 50 employees.

With this new and more comprehensive bill, many of these exceptions will no longer exist. The paid leave program will cover all employees, including full-time and part-time workers. There is no exemption for small companies. Workers can take advantage of the new paid leave program after just six months of being employed with the company. With this new program, there will be no employer contribution. Instead, about a dollar a week will be deducted from the worker’s paycheck to fund the program.

It will be one year and a half before the bill becomes permanent law in New York. The new program is scheduled to start on January 1, 2018, and it will be gradually phased into the workplace. In 2018, New York workers will be eligible for up to eight weeks of leave a year. In 2019, it will increase to 10 weeks and then up to 12 weeks in 2021.

What To Do If Your Employment Rights Are Being Violated

If your employer (or former employer) is not paying you fairly for your work or violating any of your employment rights, you may be entitled to compensation. Please contact the Law Offices of Joseph & Norinsberg. Their lawyers will provide an honest assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of your case. If your case merits going to court, the attorneys at the Law Offices of Joseph & Norinsberg will work diligently to help you find the justice you deserve. Contact the Law Offices of Joseph & Norinsberg at (212) JUSTICE or at [email protected] for a free initial consultation.