Hey Compliance Warriors!
Starting January 1st, 2018 the New York Paid Family Leave Law (NYPFL) will take effect. Employers will be able to take payroll deductions to fund this. Read on…
Article via http://www.mondaq.com
“Full and Part-Time Employees are Covered (and May Use PTO to Reach Coverage Threshold)
Under the final regulations, both full and part-time employees are covered under the NY PFL. Under the NY PFL, a full-time employee is one who works 20 or more hours per week for 26 consecutive weeks, while a part-time employee is one who works fewer than 20 hours per week, and works for at least 175 days in a 52-week period. Further, any vacation, personal, sick or other paid time off taken by full and part-time employees will count towards the consecutive requirements above, as long as the time off is subject to NY PFL payroll deductions. However, periods of temporary disability are ineligible for NY PFL coverage purposes.
Waivers Must Be Offered to Ineligible Employees
If an employee will not be eligible for NY PFL benefits because they will not work for 26 consecutive weeks or 175 days in a consecutive 52-week period, that employee must be offered a waiver of benefits relieving them from the obligation to make NY PFL payroll contributions.
Within eight weeks of any change in the regular work schedule of an employee that requires the employee to work for 26 consecutive weeks or 175 days in a consecutive 52-week period, any waiver shall be deemed revoked. If that occurs, then the employee is obligated to begin making NY PFL contributions, including any retroactive amounts due from their date of hire, as soon as the employer notifies them of such obligation.
Coordination with FMLA Leave and Accrued PTO
Leaves covered by both the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) and NY PFL may run concurrently as long as employers: (1) notify eligible employees that their time off is designated as leave under both the FMLA and NY PFL; and (2) provide the employee with the required FMLA notice and certification forms. If an employer does not provide the requisite notice, the employer waives the right to have PFL run concurrently with FMLA leave. Importantly, leave taken for an employee’s own serious health condition under the FMLA may not be counted against his or her paid family leave entitlement. Note also that an employer that designates paid family leave as FMLA leave may also charge an employee’s accrued PTO under the FMLA and the employer’s FMLA policy.
If an employee elects to utilize accrued PTO or other paid parental leave benefits in lieu of NY PFL benefits, an employer may seek reimbursement from its insurance carrier for family leave benefits, so long as the employer requests reimbursement prior to the insurer paying out such benefits.
Deductions from Pay
An employee’s payroll contribution is 0.126% of their weekly wage, with a cap of 0.126% of the state average weekly wage, which for 2018 is $1,305.92. Given those figures, an employee’s maximum weekly payroll contribution in 2018 is $1.65. [LM1] These numbers will be adjusted annually by the Superintendent of Financial Services. As noted above, employers were allowed to take these deductions starting on July 1, 2017.
Notification Requirements: Handbooks and Posters
Employee handbooks must be updated to provide written guidance concerning the NY PFL, including an employee’s rights and obligations under the NY PFL. Even if an employer does not provide a handbook, the employer must still provide written guidance to its employees about the NY PFL. Further, all employers must provide posted notice of the NY PFL. If you maintain Workers’ Compensation Insurance, your carrier can provide you with compliant notice. If you are self-insured, you can contact certificates@wcb.ny.gov to obtain the required notice.
New York’s Paid Family Leave Law: Recommendations for Employers
January 1, 2018 is right around the corner and employers should, to the extent they have not already, take steps to ensure compliance. This includes: (1) updating handbooks; (2) amending leave policies to incorporate NY PFL benefits; (3) providing notice of the forthcoming NY PFL deduction; (4) providing ineligible employees with the opportunity to opt out of NY PFL deductions; and (5) planning to provide employees with notice of the NY PFL on or before January 1, 2018.”
For more information visit: http://www.mondaq.com/newyorkfamilyleavelaw
Until Next Time, Be Audit Secure!
Lisa Smith
About LISA SMITH
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