New York State’s Paid Prenatal Leave (PPL) law (already in force since January 1 , 2025) gives pregnant employees up to 20 hours of paid time off for prenatal medical care. To sync with that statewide benefit, New York City has amended its Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (ESSTA) rules, effective July 2 , 2025. Here’s what employers need to know about the NYC Paid Prenatal Leave rules.
What’s new under the NYC rules (starting 7/2/25)
| Compliance area | New city requirement | Practical tip |
|---|---|---|
| Pay-stub / wage-statement notice | Show PPL hours used this pay period and remaining PPL balance. | Add two new fields to your payroll template. (SOURCE: jacksonlewis.com) |
| Recordkeeping | Keep a log of date, start time, end time, and total PPL hours each time leave is taken. Retain for three years (same as ESSTA). | Use an appropriate time-off code. |
| Written policy | Maintain a standalone Paid Prenatal Leave policy. Distribute: at hire; within 14 days of any change; upon request. | Add to your employee handbook. |
| Notice of Employee Rights | Post the updated ESSTA/PPL notice in a conspicuous place and give an individual copy to each employee. | Download the poster and FAQ from NYC DCWP. |
Key reminders
- No accrual: PPL is a separate 20-hour bank available immediately each 52-week period; it does not reduce existing ESSTA sick-time balances. (ny.gov)
- Applies to every employer: There’s no minimum head-count threshold.
- Confidentiality: Medical details about the pregnancy cannot be requested or stored with the leave log.
Where to get the official guidance
- NYC Department of Consumer & Worker Protection (DCWP) – Updated ESSTA/PPL FAQs & Notice of Employee Rights (vorys.com)
- NYS Department of Labor – Paid Prenatal Leave toolkit and FAQs (ny.gov, ny.gov)
Stay tuned for any further clarifications from DCWP.
Disclaimer: The information contained herein is not intended to be construed as legal advice, nor should it be relied on as such. Employers should closely monitor the rules and regulations specific to their jurisdiction(s) and should seek advice from counsel relative to their rights and responsibilities.