The New York State Senate and Assembly recently passed legislation to amend the New York Paid Family Leave Law, which went into effect in January 2018, to include paid time off for bereavement leave. The amendment, if signed by Governor Cuomo, would entitle qualified employees to use their Paid Family Leave to grieve the death of a family member.
The Paid Family Leave Law currently entitles qualified employees eight (8) weeks (increases to twelve (12) weeks by 2021) of paid leave for the following reasons:
- Provide
care for a family member with a serious health condition;
- Bond
with a child during the first twelve months after the child’s birth, adoption,
or foster care placement;
- Due
to exigent circumstances arising out of the employee’s spouse, domestic
partner, child, or parent being on active duty in the armed forces of the
United States.
Employers must ensure their insurance policies are updated to include coverage for Paid Family Leave which must include coverage for bereavement leave, if the Governor signs the legislation. In addition, employers should update their employee handbooks accordingly.
