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Working at Cornell

New York State Paid Prenatal Leave

Starting January 1, 2025, all employees in New York State are entitled to 20 hours of Paid Prenatal Leave per year. This benefit applies to both full-time and part-time employees, including student employees. 

What is Covered

Paid Prenatal Leave can be used for pregnancy-related health care appointments such as:

  • physical examinations
  • medical procedures
  • monitoring
  • testing
  • discussions with a health care provider needed to ensure a healthy pregnancy
  • end of pregnancy care
  • fertility treatment

This leave is available only for the pregnant person attending appointments. Spouses, partners, or support persons are not eligible to use this leave.

Pay During Leave

You will be paid at your regular rate or the appropriate minimum wage (whichever is higher) during your Paid Prenatal Leave. If you earn a tipped minimum wage, you will receive the full minimum wage for your region.

Important Details

  • No minimum work requirement: You are entitled to 20 hours of leave regardless of how long you've worked for your employer.
  • Hourly basis: You can take leave in increments, such as one hour for a short appointment.
  • No health details required: You do not have to share personal health information to use this leave.
  • Leave Period: The 20 hours reset every 52 weeks from the date you first use the leave, not based on the calendar year. Unused hours do not carry over.

Requesting Leave

Employees must request Paid Prenatal Leave by contacting the Medical Leaves Administration (MLA) office so that a separate time-off plan with 20 hours of leave can be added. Once the time-off plan is updated, employees should follow the same unit practice as for other time-off requests, referencing existing notification and request procedures.

Other Leave Options

Paid Prenatal Leave is in addition to any other leave benefits, such as New York State Sick Leave. 

Resources

  • Visit the NYS Paid Prenatal Leave for more information.

  • Contact the Medical Leaves Administration (MLA) at 607-255-1177 or by email at wcds@cornell.edu with any questions about Paid Prenatal Leave.