Pregnant New Yorkers may notice differences in their leave and benefits in 2025. Namely, they won’t have to forego some pay to attend a doctor’s appointment.
In April, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the country’s first-ever law allowing prenatal leave for workers. The state has also launched an awareness initiative
to inform residents of the new policy, which goes into effect Jan. 1.“No pregnant woman in New York should be forced to choose between a paycheck and a check-up—and that’s why I pushed to create the nation’s first paid prenatal leave policy,” Hochul said in a press release. “From raising the minimum wage to investing in affordable child care, we’re making New York the best and most affordable place to raise a family.”
New Yorkers working part-time or full-time have 20 hours of paid leave for prenatal care, including doctor’s appointments and fertility treatments. Employers must grant the leave if an employee requests it, and they cannot deduct it from sick days and other benefits.
The state government will spread awareness through subway advertisements, social media outreach, and a virtual tour. The New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon will help lead the tour. She called the measure a way to take care of expecting New Yorkers.
The move hopes to ensure women have unrestricted access to medical care and support during pregnancy. The Department of Labor estimates that around 130,000 pregnant workers can benefit from this benefit.
According to March of Dimes, about one in seven babies born in New York have mothers who lack adequate prenatal care, resulting in infants being three times more likely to have a low birth weight and five times more likely to die in infancy. As for mothers, those with inadequate care are more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications.
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