Overview

On January 10, 2023, Governor Hochul announced that New York State will provide 12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave (PPL) for Executive branch State employees to bond with a newly born, adopted, or fostered child. Now, more than 170,000 state employees are eligible.

New York State's Paid Parental Leave program bridges an important gap for state employees and offers a benefit that goes beyond New York State Paid Family Leave, providing 100% of pay for up to 12 weeks for eligible employees (Paid Family Leave provides 67% of pay, up to a cap).

Benefits

Paid Parental Leave for State Workers

Eligible state employees may take up to 12 weeks of fully paid leave for each qualifying event, defined as the birth of a child or placement of a child for adoption or foster care.

Paid Parental Leave (PPL) is available for use once every 12-month period. A qualifying event begins the 12-month period. PPL may begin on the date of birth, the day of adoption or foster care placement or anytime thereafter within seven months.

An employee's ability to use PPL ends seven months from the date of the qualifying event. If a qualifying event occurred within seven months before the effective date of the benefit, an employee may use PPL, however the employee's use of PPL must end within seven months of the qualifying event.

Use of Paid Parental Leave

Paid Parental Leave may be used in combination with all other paid and unpaid childcare leave benefits, but cannot run concurrently. (see links below for application of Paid Parental Leave benefits for specific bargaining units). For all bargaining units Paid Parental Leave and FMLA will run concurrently, as appropriate.

If both parents are employed by a New York State Agency, both parents may use Paid Parental Leave, even if they work for the same appointing authority.

Paid Parental Leave cannot be used intermittently and must be taken in a block of time. Employees do not have to take the full 12 weeks, but once they return from Paid Parental Leave, they can no longer use this leave.

New York State has a long history of providing generous leave benefits for child bonding beginning with the longstanding State policy on Child Care Leave that remains in place and may be used in conjunction with Paid Parental Leave. In addition to being able to use leave accruals in accordance with the State policy on child care leave, employees may also request to participate in the Voluntary Reduction in Work Schedule program which allows eligible employees to trade income for time off from work.

Eligibility Criteria

More than 170,000 state employees are eligible to receive 12 weeks of fully paid leave to use for bonding with a newborn, fostered, or adopted child.

Unrepresented Employees

On February 14, 2023, Paid Parental Leave became available to the following unpresented employees:

• 06 - Management Confidential
• 18 - Management Confidential State Police
• 46 - Military and Naval Affairs M/C
• 66 - Public Employment Relations Board 0801
• 96 - SUNY Construction Fund M/C

All unrepresented executive branch employees who work full-time or who work at least 50% part-time are eligible for this benefit. Such employees are eligible beginning on their first day of service. Employees are not required to have Attendance Rules coverage to be granted this benefit.

Note: For M/C employees, Paid Family Leave, the Income Protection Plan, and usage of accruals cannot run at the same time as Paid Parental Leave and may be taken at the appropriate time in addition to Paid Parental Leave.

Learn More: Policy Bulletin 23-01 (ny.gov)

CSEA - ASU, ISU, OSU and DMNA

Effective April 2, 2023, Paid Parental Leave became available to employees in the ASU, ISU, OSU and DMNA Bargaining Units.

All CSEA employees in the Administrative Services Unit (ASU), Institutional Services Unit (ISU), Operational Services Unit (OSU) and Division of Military and Naval Affairs (DMNA) Employees who work full-time or who work at least 50% part-time are eligible for this benefit. Such employees are eligible upon completion of six months of State service.

Learn More: Policy Bulletin 23-02 (ny.gov)

PEF - PS&T

Effective April 2, 2023, Paid Parental Leave became available to employees in the PS&T Bargaining Unit.

All PS&T employees who work full-time or who work at least 50% part-time are eligible for this benefit. Such employees are eligible upon completion of six months of State service.

Learn More: Policy Bulletin 23-03 (ny.gov)

DC-37 - RRSU

Effective September 1, 2023, Paid Parental Leave became available to employees in the RRSU Bargaining Unit.

All RRSU employees who work full-time or who work at least 50% part-time are eligible for this benefit. Such employees are eligible upon completion of six months of State service.

Note: For RRSU employees, Paid Family Leave, the Income Protection Plan, and usage of accruals cannot run at the same time as Paid Parental Leave and may be taken at the appropriate time in addition to Paid Parental Leave.

Learn More: Policy Bulletin 24-01 (ny.gov)

NYSCOPBA - SSU

Effective January 1, 2024, Paid Parental Leave became available to employees in the SSU Bargaining Unit.

All SSU employees who work full-time or who work at least 50% part-time are eligible for this benefit. Such employees are eligible upon completion of six months of State service.

Learn More: Policy Bulletin 24-02 (ny.gov)

PBANYS - APSU

Effective May 17, 2024, Paid Parental Leave became available to employees in the APSU Bargaining Unit.

All employees who work full-time or who work at least 50% part-time are eligible for this benefit. Such employees are eligible upon completion of six months of State service.

Learn More: Policy Bulletin 24-04 (ny.gov)

Council 82 - SSpU

Effective June 10, 2024, Paid Parental Leave became available to employees in the SSpU Bargaining Unit.

All SSpU employees who work full-time or who work at least 50% part-time are eligible for this benefit. Such employees are eligible upon completion of six months of State service.

Learn More: Policy Bulletin 24-07 (ny.gov)

Employees should reach out to the Business Services Center at 518-457-4272 or bscbenefitsadmin@ogs.ny.gov, or may reach out to their Human Resources Office to request use of PPL.

Adding newborns to your NYSHIP coverage

Your newborn child is not automatically covered; you must contact your Health Benefits Administrator (HBA) within 30 days of the child's birth to complete the appropriate forms (PS-404, NYSHIP Health Insurance Transaction Form), even if all proofs of eligibility are not yet available.

Refer to the General Information Book for NYS Employee to learn about required documentation, effective dates of coverage, changing from Individual to Family coverage or adding a dependent to Family coverage, and additional requirements if you are adopting a newborn.

Additional Resources

• Income Protection Program (Management Confidential (M/C) Employees)
• Income Protection Program (Rent Regulation Services Unit (RRSU) Employees)
• Paid Family Leave for M/C and RRSU Employees only
• Department of Civil Service Employee Benefits Division