THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR HIGHLIGHTS RESOURCES FOR WORKING MOTHERS

This Mother’s Day, the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) is reminding mothers statewide of the many resources available to them. This year, New York became the first state in the nation to mandate Paid Prenatal Leave for pregnant workers, allowing them to seek prenatal care without taking time off work. Pregnant workers employed in full or part-time private sector positions receive 20 hours of paid leave for pregnancy-related health care appointments, such as physical exams, medical procedures, monitoring and testing, fertility treatments, and end-of-pregnancy care. Studies show access to prenatal health care is highly correlated with improved health outcomes for mothers and their infants, and regular prenatal medical visits are associated with lower rates of maternal mortality and healthier newborns. 

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “As the first mom governor, Governor Hochul knows firsthand the struggles of being a mother in the workforce. That’s why the nation-leading policies she is implementing continue to build on the progress we’ve made to make workplaces as inclusive to mothers as possible. The New York State Department of Labor is here to support parents in the workforce.”

In addition to Paid Prenatal Leave, New York State also offers Paid Family Leave, which 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 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.

Last year, Governor Hochul signed a new law allowing Paid Breaks for Breast Milk Expression, requiring employers to provide 30 minutes of paid break time for employees to express breast milk up to three years following childbirth. The Governor also signed legislation to expand maternal health care access by permitting pregnant New Yorkers to enroll in health insurance policies without penalty and require health insurers to provide coverage for prenatal vitamins.

Child care is the backbone of a strong economy, and this year the Governor is delivering additional resources to aid working families. To help ease the burden of child care on parents, Governor Hochul has improved access to the Child Care Assistance Program, which helps New Yorkers pay for child care while allowing parents to work, go to school, or seek training. In her latest enacted state budget, Governor Hochul, in partnership with the Legislature, is investing $2.2 billion to expand access to child care for New Yorkers, as well as $110 million to build or renovate child care centers across the state and additional funding to increase the Child Tax Credit to the highest levels in state history.  

NYSDOL also has a variety of programs available to help moms with everything from entering the workforce to progressing in their current careers. NYSDOL’s Career Centers provide counseling to help workers explore new careers or advance their skill sets, and the Salary Negotiation Guide is also available to help workers and job seekers advocate for themselves and ensure they are being properly compensated. For those looking to change or advance their careers, registered apprenticeships provide an opportunity to earn a paycheck while you learn, and NYSDOL has also partnered with Coursera to allow job seekers to take courses for free.