To: Mark Treyger, chairperson of the City Council’s Committee on Education and Bill deBlasio, NYC Mayor
Paid Parental Leave For Teachers
Teachers deserve paid parental leave.
Why is this important?
Get the Facts on Family Leave!
What is the federal law?
The Federal Medical Leave Act: 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for self or family member.
In most cases, FMLA leave happens concurrently with other options available.
What about those Family Leave ads on the subway?
The new state law covers all private employers, but public employers must opt-in.
Paid for by payroll tax, with an annual maximum of less than $100 per employee.
Uses: bonding with a child, caring for a family member, or assisting with a military deployment.
In 2018, maximum leave is 8 weeks, increasing to 12 weeks by 2021.
In 2018, the benefit is 50% of average weekly wage, with a maximum of 50% of the state average of $1357. The percentage will rise to 67% by 2021.
What is it like for teachers?
UFT members are currently entitled to FMLA leave but are not covered under the state law.
UFT members could be covered by state law via an amendment to collective bargaining agreement or a memorandum of understanding (no need for the contract to expire).
Mothers who give birth may take leave for six to eight weeks after a birth but must spend down their sick days or take the leave as unpaid.
Any parent may take a child care leave within the first four years of a child’s life, but this leave is unpaid and without health benefits.
Other leaves include unpaid leaves for the restoration of health.
What about other states?
California: similar paid leave law as New York but covers more public employees. Mothers who give birth are also entitled to 28 weeks unpaid maternity leave.
New Jersey and Rhode Island also have similar paid family leave laws.
Many other states have unpaid leave laws that build on FMLA.
What about other countries?
Mexico: 12 weeks fully paid maternity leave paid by the social security system.
India: 26 weeks fully paid maternity leave, paternity leave for civil servants.
Sweden: 390 days per parent, paid at 80%, can be taken until child’s eighth birthday.
What is the federal law?
The Federal Medical Leave Act: 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for self or family member.
In most cases, FMLA leave happens concurrently with other options available.
What about those Family Leave ads on the subway?
The new state law covers all private employers, but public employers must opt-in.
Paid for by payroll tax, with an annual maximum of less than $100 per employee.
Uses: bonding with a child, caring for a family member, or assisting with a military deployment.
In 2018, maximum leave is 8 weeks, increasing to 12 weeks by 2021.
In 2018, the benefit is 50% of average weekly wage, with a maximum of 50% of the state average of $1357. The percentage will rise to 67% by 2021.
What is it like for teachers?
UFT members are currently entitled to FMLA leave but are not covered under the state law.
UFT members could be covered by state law via an amendment to collective bargaining agreement or a memorandum of understanding (no need for the contract to expire).
Mothers who give birth may take leave for six to eight weeks after a birth but must spend down their sick days or take the leave as unpaid.
Any parent may take a child care leave within the first four years of a child’s life, but this leave is unpaid and without health benefits.
Other leaves include unpaid leaves for the restoration of health.
What about other states?
California: similar paid leave law as New York but covers more public employees. Mothers who give birth are also entitled to 28 weeks unpaid maternity leave.
New Jersey and Rhode Island also have similar paid family leave laws.
Many other states have unpaid leave laws that build on FMLA.
What about other countries?
Mexico: 12 weeks fully paid maternity leave paid by the social security system.
India: 26 weeks fully paid maternity leave, paternity leave for civil servants.
Sweden: 390 days per parent, paid at 80%, can be taken until child’s eighth birthday.