ALBANY, N.Y. — Pregnant New Yorkers will be given at least 20 hours of paid time off to attend prenatal medical appointments under a law that took effect Wednesday.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said the policy would make New York the first state in the nation to offer paid leave for prenatal care.
All pregnant workers in the private sector are eligible for paid leave. Workers can schedule paid time off for pregnancy-related medical appointments, such as checkups, late-pregnancy care, and infertility treatment.
Hochul promoted the measure in the state's last legislative session as a way to reduce maternal and infant deaths in New York.
“Pregnant women in New York shouldn't have to choose between a paycheck and a health check, which is why I pushed for the creation of the nation's first paid maternity leave program,” Hochul said in a statement last month.
Employers are prohibited from requesting medical information when a worker requests paid maternity leave.
This policy is separate from any other paid sick leave provided by your employer. The spouse of a pregnant woman is not eligible for maternity leave.
