Paid Family Leave: A Win for Working New Yorkers

On April 4, 2016, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed into law the nation's most robust paid family leave policy. CSS helped lead the fight that brought about this major victory for working New Yorkers.

As our Unheard Third data revealed, without paid family leave, too many women and men face financial crisis for taking time off from work to care for a newborn or a seriously ill family member. Low-income New Yorkers are especially vulnerable--just 7 days of lost pay wipes out the average life savings of a minimum wage worker. 

CSS research included conducting focus groups to hear first-hand from low-income mothers about the struggles they face without paid leave or job security--struggles that reveal in stark terms why paid family leave is an idea whose time has come. It's clear, no one should have to choose between the health of their family and their ability to make ends meet.

Together with a broad-based coalition, CSS advocated vigorously across New York City and State for passage of a strong, fair paid family leave bill. 

These efforts paid off. New York’s ground-breaking new law will guarantee employees up to 12 weeks of leave with job security when they need time to care for a new child or seriously ill family member, or to meet certain needs related to a family member’s military deployment. Here’s more on how the Paid Family Leave law works.

CSS applauds Governor Cuomo, our legislative champions, fellow members of the New York Paid Family Leave Insurance Campaign, and our colleague Nancy Rankin, who led CSS’s efforts on paid family leave. We also thank the countless New Yorkers who fought so hard to ensure that working New Yorkers who need to care for a new baby or seriously ill relative can do so without risking their jobs or economic stability.

Community Service Society's Role in Passing Paid Family Leave in New York.