Starting January 1, 2025, New York State made history by becoming the first state in the U.S. to offer 20 hours of paid prenatal leave to all pregnant employees. This new law, signed in 2023 and now officially in effect, gives expecting mothers time off from work to go to medical appointments without losing pay.
The decision is being praised as a major step forward for working women. It’s a part of New York’s efforts to support pregnant workers especially those who might not have access to paid time off otherwise.
A Law That Stands Out
This law is called the Paid Prenatal Leave Law and it changes New York’s previous Paid Sick Leave Law by adding this extra benefit. According to Ogletree, the 20 hours of leave are “frontloaded,” meaning workers don’t have to wait or build up time—they get the full amount as soon as they start their job.
Even more, any pregnant employee can use the leave, whether they’ve worked at the job for one day or one year. And employers don’t have a say in size—whether it’s a small family-run business or a large company, all must follow the law.
The law also allows the time off to be used in small chunks, so if someone has a 45-minute doctor’s visit or needs a few hours for testing they can just use what they need.
What Does Prenatal Leave Cover?
The leave is meant for any health care needs during pregnancy. This could include:
- Regular doctor visits
- Prenatal testing
- Consultations with specialists
- Fertility treatments
- End-of-pregnancy care
It makes sure that workers don’t have to choose between getting the care they need—and earning a paycheck.
Not Just Leave—More Protections Too
Since 2016 New York has already had strong rules to protect pregnant employees. These include things like:
- Short breaks to rest or get water
- Changes in work hours
- Time off for medical reasons
- Light-duty tasks
- Moving away from risky job duties
According to The State of New York, it’s illegal for a boss to fire someone just because they’re pregnant. They can’t demote, refuse to hire or treat pregnant employees unfairly. And once the leave is over workers must be allowed to return to their job under the same conditions as before.
NYC Goes a Step Further
While the state has made a big change, New York City has added even more rules to make sure everything goes smoothly. Starting July 2, 2025, city employers will have extra tasks.
As reported by the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, NYC businesses must now:
- Write and share a policy that explains prenatal leave
- Show prenatal leave use on pay stubs
- Update employee notices for both new and current workers
These extra steps are meant to make sure employees clearly understand their rights.
“The amended ESSTA rules will help guarantee that pregnant workers in NYC are fully informed of their rights and that employers maintain transparency in prenatal leave usage” said the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.
What About Family Leave?
This new law isn’t the same as Paid Family Leave—but it works alongside it. Paid Family Leave in New York gives workers up to 12 weeks off to care for a new baby or sick family member. According to Paid Family Leave, the contribution limit for 2025 is $354.53 per year and it’s taken out of employees’ paychecks weekly.
When used together prenatal leave and family leave give working parents better support than ever before.
What Experts Are Saying
The New York State Department of Labor said this law will help people manage pregnancy more easily. “The 20 hours of paid prenatal leave are available immediately and can be used as needed during pregnancy-related health care visits.”
Experts are also warning businesses to take this seriously.
“Employers must update their policies, and train management to comply with these expanded protections” said one employment law expert. “Ensuring pregnant employees receive the support they need without fear of discrimination or job loss.”
This law doesn’t just give time off—it gives peace of mind. For many workers, especially those in low-paying jobs or without benefits, taking time off for medical care was once a risk. Now in New York that risk is smaller.
By being the first state to offer this kind of paid prenatal leave, New York is setting an example for the rest of the country. And while other states may follow, pregnant employees in New York are already seeing the difference.
