How does NYS Paid Prenatal Leave work?

Tell your employer if you plan on taking Paid Prenatal Leave, just like you would do for other kinds of leave. Your employer must let you take Paid Prenatal Leave when you ask. You can use Paid Prenatal Leave for appointments including physical examinations, medical procedures, monitoring, and testing. When you take Paid Prenatal Leave, your employer must pay your normal rate. If you earn the tipped minimum wage, your employer must pay the full minimum wage Your employer cannot ask about your health records or what kind of appointment you have when you use your Paid Prenatal Leave. You don’t have to submit any medical records either.

Am I eligible for NYS Paid Prenatal Leave?

See if you’re eligible for Paid Prenatal Leave: Eligible employees Full- and part-time employees in the private sector Employees of non-profit organizations Not eligible Federal, state, or local government employees

NYS Paid Prenatal Leave

How it works

By law in New York State, you are entitled to take up to 20 hours of paid prenatal leave every year for doctors’ appointments related to your pregnancy.

Tell your employer if you plan on taking Paid Prenatal Leave, just like you would do for other kinds of leave. Your employer must let you take Paid Prenatal Leave when you ask.
You can use Paid Prenatal Leave for appointments including physical examinations, medical procedures, monitoring, and testing.
When you take Paid Prenatal Leave, your employer must pay your normal rate. If you earn the tipped minimum wage, your employer must pay the full minimum wage
Your employer cannot ask about your health records or what kind of appointment you have when you use your Paid Prenatal Leave. You don’t have to submit any medical records either.

Eligibility requirements

See if you’re eligible for Paid Prenatal Leave:

Eligible employees	Full- and part-time employees in the private sector Employees of non-profit organizations
Not eligible	Federal, state, or local government employees

Get help

information about Prenatal Leave

from NYSDOL.

If your employer doesn’t give you prenatal leave, doesn’t pay you when you take leave, or punishes you for asking or using it:

file a complaint with the NYS Department of Labor
call 888-52-LABOR (888-525-2267)
email [email protected]
visit a Labor Standards Division office

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Last Updated May 15, 2025

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Paid time off for pregnancy-related health care appointments