How To Calculate PFL Benefits in 2019
*New information for 2020!*
For simple and up-to-date details on how to calculate PFL benefits, go here.
October 15, 2018
Knowing how much time an employee can take with Paid Family Leave may seem tricky. Employees are trying to figure out just how much PFL time can they can take in 2019 should they need to use it.
So how do you calculate how much time an eligible employee can take with Paid Family Leave? First, you need to know if you plan on taking PFL in full weeks or intermittent leave (since Paid Family Leave can be taken in daily increments, such as every other Monday).
Weekly Leave
Taking weekly leave is pretty straightforward. Here’s the 2019 benefit chart for eligible employees taking paid leave in weekly increments (regardless of full-time or part-time status):
Benefit stage
effective date*
|
Maximum length
of Paid Leave
|
Maximum benefit amount
|
Payable % of employee’s Average Weekly Wage (AWW)
|
To the maximum % of NY Average Weekly Wage (NYSAWW)**
|
Benefit maximum based on current
NYSAWW of $1,357.11**
|
01/01/2019
|
10 weeks
|
55%
|
55%
|
$746.41
|
Intermittent Leave
Taking PFL intermittently is where we’ve seen most of the confusion. The benefit for eligible employees who take paid leave in daily increments is based on their average number of days worked per week during the last 8 weeks before taking paid leave.
- Number of hours worked during those days has no influence on the maximum benefit.
For example: a part-time employee and a full-time employee who both work on 5 days of the week are entitled to the same amount of intermittent Paid Family Leave days.
Below is the 2019 benefit chart for employees taking paid leave in daily increments:
Benefit stage effective date*
|
Maximum length of Paid Leave
|
Maximum average # of days worked/week
|
Maximum # of intermittent days
|
Employee’s daily benefit
|
To the Maximum % of NY Average Weekly Wage
|
$ Max based on current NY AWW of $1,357.11**
|
01/01/2019
|
10 weeks
|
7
|
60 days
|
AWW / days worked
|
55%
|
$746.41
|
To calculate how many intermittent days an eligible employee can take off in 2019, you need to look at the average number of days the employee worked in the prior 8 weeks before their Paid Family Leave begins:
Average # of days worked per week
|
2019 maximum number of intermittent days
|
1
|
10
|
2
|
20
|
3
|
30
|
4
|
40
|
5
|
50
|
6
|
60
|
7
|
60
|
Intermittent leave give employees the flexibility to be there for their sick family member’s regular treatment regimen or to help find creative ways of navigating childcare challenges during baby’s first year.
For example: Mom could take PFL time every Monday and Dad every Friday, leaving new parents with just 3 days of the work week to make childcare arrangements.
* While this is the anticipated phase-in schedule, New York State may delay increases at its discretion.
** NY Department of Labor releases the updated NYSAWW every March 31st of the prior applicable calendar year. Past years’ maximum benefit amounts are based on prior NYSAWWs respectively. The NYSAWW applicable to 2019 is $1,357.11=$70,569.72 per year.
This blog post is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal counsel. Please consult with an appropriate professional for legal and compliance advice. Any PFL information is as of the blog post’s date stamp; it is based on the applicable statutes and regulation, and may change as regulations evolve or NY State issues guidance regarding Paid Family Leave regulations. Have more questions? Email us at pflquestions@shelterpoint.com