New York’s paid family leave now in effect
Cuomo backs popular perquisite, calls it strongest in U.S.; insurance pays bill
What Gov. Andrew Cuomo called the strongest paid family leave policy in the country launched in New York on Monday. The policy enables most employees to have paid time off from work to bond with a new child, care for close relative with a serious health condition or to help relieve family pressures when someone is called to active military service.
Cuomo said that he was inspired to enhance the state’s policy following his experiences in hospitals last year as his own father, the former Gov. Mario Cuomo, was dying.
A woman who couldn’t afford to take time off from work as her father was dying told Cuomo, “I come in before I go to work in the morning. I get here right after work to spend time with him. I go home, put the kids to bed and then come back to the hospital.”