New York City has recently updated its Prenatal Leave laws to provide more leave to employees who need to take time for pregnancy-related purposes. The state has borrowed heavily from the Prenatal Personal Leave law enacted by New York State earlier this year. You can read more about that leave law HERE.

In addition to the provisions of the state law, NYC has added several new obligations for employers:

- Employers must create, maintain, and distribute a Prenatal Paid Leave policy document upon hire. Employers must provide existing employees a copy of the policy as soon as possible. It must contain the following information:

- The availability of 20 hours specifically granted by this leave;

- Use of leave;

- Any required notice procedures;

- Documentation procedures;

- Minimum leave increments;

- Disciplinary procedures for failure to follow proper Prenatal Paid Leave use;

- A statement that the underlying reason for the leave will be kept confidential and the employer will not ask about it;

- Employers must provide employees with a balance notification on the employee’s paycheck.

- Employers must provide an updated Notice of Employee Rights to all employees currently hired as soon as possible and for new employees at the time of hire. The updated Notice can be found HERE.

NYC employers should implement Prenatal Leave around the parameters of the state law plus the additional requirements (as described in the Model Notice) as soon as possible.