Beginning Jan. 1, the Paid Family Leave Act (PFL) goes into effect for most employers in New York State, including the University of Rochester. PFL offers job-protected, paid leave to eligible employees for the purpose of caring for a close relative with a serious health condition; assisting a family member, due to another family member’s active military duty or impending active duty abroad; or bonding with a newborn or newly placed child.
Many University employees—about two-thirds of the employee base—will automatically receive PFL as a benefit starting in the new year. However, there is a group of University employees who, according to New York State’s Workers Compensation Board, will need to vote in order for this group to be PFL-eligible. Faculty and staff in this group, which is largely made up of employees with specific advanced academic degrees and/or licenses, will receive a direct email from the Office of Human Resources requesting their participation in the important online vote.
Human Resources has developed a full FAQ.
New York State has outlined a phased-in approach for employees taking advantage of this new benefit: in 2018, up to 8 weeks of paid leave is available at 50 percent of pay; beginning in 2021, the benefit goes up to 12 weeks of paid leave at 67 percent of pay.
PFL will be employee-funded through a payroll deduction determined annually by New York State. In 2018, the rate will be 0.126 percent of an eligible employee’s weekly wage, capped at $85.56 per year. Beginning Jan. 1, all eligible employees will see this deduction come out of their regular paycheck, regardless if they ever elect to use PFL.