Prenatal leave in New York State and other family-leave developments

At a glance

• Paid prenatal leave comes into effect in New York State (NYS) on 1 January 2025.
• Amendments to lactation leave law in New York City impose additional notice requirements.
• Updated notice requirements also apply in Washington D.C.

• In NYS paid prenatal leave law will take effect January 1, 2025. In advance of the law going into effect the State published an FAQ and other information regarding the law.
• New York City amended its lactation leave law to incorporate the NYS law requirement to provide 30-minute paid breaks and to add additional notice requirements. In addition to distributing a written lactation room accommodation policy to employees at the commencement of employment, employers must 'make such written policy readily available to employees by, at a minimum, conspicuously posting such policy at an employer’s place of business in an area accessible to employees and electronically on such employer’s intranet, if one exists'. Notably, these requirements are in addition and slightly different than the notice requirements under the NYS law.
• The District of Columbia released updated posters regarding workplace rights for parents and pregnant women, paid family leave, and pregnant worker protections.