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Changes to Paid Family Leave in 2022

January 4, 2022 / By Tracy Rickett, Human Resources Generalist

After a successful four-year phase-in, New York State Paid Family Leave is now fully realized, with benefits at their target levels. Please read the information below on details for Paid Family Leave (PFL) Benefits. 

Up to 12 Weeks of Leave

New York State Paid Family Leave provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of job protected, paid time off to bond with a new child, care for a family member with a serious health condition, or to assist loved ones when a family member is deployed abroad on active military service. This time can be taken all at once, or in increments of full days.

Paid Family Leave may also be available in some situations when an employee or their minor, dependent child is under an order of quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19.

Click here for COVID-19 paid family leave information.

At 67% of Pay (Up to a Cap)

Employees taking Paid Family Leave receive 67% of their average weekly wage, up to a cap of 67% of the current Statewide Average Weekly Wage (SAWW). For 2022, the SAWW is $1,594.57, which means the maximum weekly benefit is $1,068.36. This is $96.75 more than the maximum weekly benefit for 2021.

Strong Protections

Employees can take leave to care for their family members.  New York State Paid Family Leave guarantees that:

• Employees have job protection, ensuring they can return to the same job (or a comparable one) when they return from Paid Family Leave.
• Employees can keep their health insurance while on leave on the same terms they had while working.
• Employers are prohibited from discriminating or retaliating against employees for requesting or taking Paid Family Leave.

You are required to update your PFL policies reflecting the 2022 changes. You can find frequently asked questions, PFL poster, and model language for employee materials on the NYS Paid Family Leave website

Important Reminders regarding Paid Family Leave

• The Conference will continue to provide coverage under the group disability plan via Guardian and pay the premium.
• Churches should not purchase their own coverage.
• No employee contributions are to be withheld from pay and churches will not be billed.
• Churches are responsible for their own claim administration as they are with disability claims.
• Claim forms are available here. 

If you have a payroll vendor that manages payroll, please contact them with this information and verify they will not take deductions in 2022. It is recommended that you check your pay journals the first few months to ensure that they do not add the deductions.

If you have additional questions on the New York State Paid Family Leave benefit, please contact Tracy Rickett, Human Resources Generalist, at (315) 898-2017 or tracyrickett@unyumc.og.  You may also contact Guardian directly at 1-800-268-2525.