New York Paid Family Leave Is Live! Top 5 Things to Do Now
Happy New Year! New York's Paid Family Leave program is now in effect. Are you ready to handle employees' questions and claims? Get off to a great start by reviewing key details about benefits, withholding, taxes and more.
Here are 5 key things to do right now:
1. Help employees understand their new PFL benefits and payroll deductions. Your employees may notice the small deduction from their paychecks for PFL premiums. Help them understand basic PFL facts and the value this benefit offers. Share our PFL flyer.
2. Make sure all systems are go, including taxation and reporting:
- Deduct employee premiums post-tax.
- If you started deductions for PFL in 2017, report employee payroll contributions on Form W-2 using Box 14: State Disability Insurance Taxes Withheld.
- Remember, taxes aren't withheld from benefits automatically. Employees can request voluntary tax withholding. See more guidance from New York state.
3. Be prepared to coordinate FMLA, DBL, PFL and other leaves. Compliance just got more complicated! Give everyone on your HR team a refresh on when and how leaves can overlap — or not. Review how PFL compares to FMLA and PFL vs. Disability Benefits Law, including three leave scenarios.
4. Review your estimated 2018 premium for PFL. Are you anticipating changes in your workforce and payroll? Now's a good time to review premium rates, limits and withholding.
5. Keep PFL claim forms handy and post them on your site. Filing a claim for PFL is a simple process, but employees are likely to have questions. Be prepared with answers and the right forms. Here's a step-by-step review of who needs to file which form when.
To find out more about PFL and other regulations that affect employees, follow The Standard on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter with the hashtag #PaidFamilyLeave.
For more details about New York Paid Family Leave, visit: ny.gov/programs/new-york-state-paid-family-leave.