Most professionals try to keep their personal lives and careers separate. However, sometimes unusual personal situations may impact people’s ability to work. Some people need to take leave to deal with personal medical issues. Others may require time off to support a family member or to adjust to the addition of a child to their family.
Professionals working in New York have more options than those in many other states due to unique state statutes that expand on federal regulations. What options for leave do professionals in New York have when dealing with personal challenges?
1. Using paid time off benefits
Many professionals accrue paid time off based on how long they have been with their employers. They may start with a week of paid leave but can accrue more time annually as their seniority increases. Those anticipating a relatively brief leave of absence and those with significant benefits could use their paid time off to address personal matters.
2. Taking state-mandated paid leave
Most full-time professionals who have been with the company for at least 26 weeks may qualify for paid leave under state statutes. Paid Family Leave allows workers to take up to 12 weeks of leave while receiving two-thirds of their usual wages in qualifying circumstances.
3. Requesting unpaid leave
The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides leave opportunities for those facing challenging situations. The FMLA allows a professional to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave in qualifying situations.
Each of these options has benefits and drawbacks. Some professionals might even use a combination of all three options. Learning more about employee leave rights is critical for both employees facing challenging circumstances and employers responding to a professional leave request.
