The New York Paid Family Leave law (NYPFL), which becomes effective Jan. 1, 2018, mandates that private employers provide coverage for certain types of employee leave. The benefits will be administered and payments made by the employer’s disability carrier (or by the employer if self-insured), in the same manner as disability benefits. Funding of the coverage will come solely from employee contributions, not the employer. Employers are required to withhold 0.126 percent of an employee’s weekly taxable wages in order to fund the benefits. There is a maximum contribution based on the state’s average weekly wage; the maximum annual contribution for 2018 will be $85.56. Under the law, only those employees working less than 20 hours a week and less than 175 days a year can waive coverage and opt out of the mandatory state program; such persons must sign an opt-out form.

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