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.
