New York State Paid Family Leave (PFL)

In accordance with the New York State Paid Family Leave Benefits Law (“PFL”), employees of the auxiliary entity of the Fashion Institute of Technology, Student Housing Corporation (“SHC”), who work in New York State may request job-protected and partially-paid leave for specific family qualifying events. PFL does not apply to employees of the Fashion Institute of Technology or to the Fashion Institute of Technology Student Association.

Eligibility

Employees regularly scheduled to work 20 or more hours per week will become eligible for leave under the PFL after completing 26 consecutive weeks of employment in the SHC. The 26-week period will be tolled during any periods of absence that are due to the nature of that employment, such as semester breaks and other times the SHC is customarily closed, and when employment is not terminated during those periods of absence.

Employees regularly scheduled to work less than 20 hours per week will be eligible for leave under the PFL after working for 175 days since their most recent hire date with the SHC. 

For determining eligibility, the use of scheduled vacation time, personal, sick, holidays, or other time away from work that has been approved by the SHC, or other periods where the employee is away from work but is still considered to be an employee by the SHC, count as continuous weeks of employment or days worked, as long as the employee contributes to the cost of PFL benefits during such periods. Absences during which the employee is receiving disability benefits are not counted as continuous weeks of employment or days worked.

Employees who become eligible for leave under the PFL will remain eligible for the remainder of their period of continuous employment with the SHC. In the case of a rehire following a termination of employment, however, employees must satisfy the eligibility criteria again before becoming eligible.

For more information on Paid Family Leave, please review the New York State Paid Family Leave Guidance (.pdf). 

New York State Disability and Paid Family Leave benefits available to SHC employees are provided by Arch Insurance.  If you have questions or want to discuss the need for New York State Disability benefits or New York State Paid Family Leave, please visit the HR Solution Center, and a Human Resources representative will contact you.

PFL Forms

•  Statement of Rights for Paid Family Leave (.pdf)
  A New York State simplified explanation of your rights
• Employee Opt-Out of Paid Family Leave Benefits Form (.pdf)
  Form that employees who do not work the minimum hours may complete to opt out of the benefit program.

Types of PFL Leave and Procedures

1. Request Paid Family Leave to bond with a newly born, adopted, or fostered child during the first 12 months following the child’s birth, adoption, or foster placement (includes pre-adoption or placement for events required to effectuate adoption or placement in foster care).
   
   Federal Family and Medical Leave will run concurrently with NYS PFL leave. You must use the online Employee Request for Family Medical Leave of Absence form to request leave, attach your completed NYS PFL form (.pdf) to the online leave request form, and also submit the appropriate health care provider certification form that will become available once you enter your online request.
   
   
2. Request Paid Family Leave to care for a family member (spouse, domestic partner, child, sibling, parent, grandparent, or grandchild) with a serious health condition to participate in providing care.
   
   Federal Family and Medical Leave will run concurrently with NYS PFL leave. You must use the online Employee Request for Family Medical Leave of Absence form to request leave, attach your completed NYS PFL form (.pdf) to the online leave request form, and also submit the appropriate health care provider certification form that will become available once you enter your online request.
   
   
3. Request Paid Family Leave to provide military family support to assist with situations arising from the employee’s spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent being on active service in a foreign country or having been notified of an impending call or order of active service to a foreign country.
   
   Federal Family and Medical Leave will run concurrently with NYS PFL leave. You must use the online Employee Request for Family Medical Leave of Absence form to request leave, attach your completed NYS PFL form (.pdf) to the online leave request form, and also submit the appropriate FMLA certification form that will become available once you enter your online request.