Paid Family Leave From a New Parent's Point of View

Paid family leave gives employees a great opportunity to spend time bonding with the newest additions to their families. Employees can file a claim for bonding with a newborn, adopted or fostered child. Looking at PFL from a new parent's point of view can help employers explain the benefits and anticipate questions.

The Benefits of Bonding Leave

Taking PFL to bond with a new child can benefit employees and their children by:

• Giving employees essential time to adjust to new additions to their families.
• Helping them put their financial worries aside while they adjust to parental life. For 2018, eligible employees will receive 50 percent of their average weekly wage, capped at 50 percent of New York State's average weekly wage for up to eight weeks.

PFL paves the way for parents who might be too worried about job security or finances to take leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Now they’ll be able to shift their focus toward what matters most and return ready to focus on work.

How to File a PFL Bonding Claim

Filing your claim is simple. Collect the following forms and documentation and submit them as far in advance as possible:

• Required forms
  • Form PFL-1: Request for Paid Family Leave
  • Form PFL-2: Bonding Certification
• Supporting documentation
  • Birth certificate or documentation of pregnancy or birth from a health-care provider, including mother’s name and birthdate, legal evidence of the adoption process or letter of placement for foster care

Advice to Parents-to-Be

Here are a few tips to make your Paid Family Leave go smoothly.

• Don't wait until the last minute to file your PFL claim. Parents-to-be must give their employers at least 30 days' notice when the reason for leave is foreseeable (such as the birth of a child). This helps employers make any necessary arrangements.
• Do your research. Once you know you’ll be filing a claim, educate yourself about eligibility requirements and the filing process so you’ll be ready when the time comes.
• Ask for help. Although the process is simple, you might find yourself wondering about specific details regarding how PFL works. Be sure you and your employer are communicating about your leave, and take advantage of the New York State Paid Family Leave Helpline at 844.337.6303.

To find out more about PFL and other regulations that affect employees, follow The Standard on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter with the hashtag #PaidFamilyLeave, and subscribe   to this blog's RSS feed to receive updated content as new information becomes available.

For more details about New York Paid Family Leave, visit: ny.gov/programs/new-york-state-paid-family-leave.