Prenatal Leave: Employer Requirements, Compliance Tips, and Best Practices – Employment Edge with Liz

Apr 13, 2026

 

Elizabeth Schlissel, Partner in the Labor & Employment Practice Group at Falcon Rappaport & Berkman LLP, explains what employers need to know about prenatal leave laws and policy compliance. From understanding employee rights to implementing clear procedures and manager training, this video highlights practical steps businesses can take to minimize risk, improve consistency, and ensure legal compliance.

Employment Edge with Liz is Falcon Rappaport & Berkman’s video web series hosted by Elizabeth Schlissel, Chair of the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice Group. Through the series, Liz provides timely, practical commentary on the labor and employment issues shaping today’s workplace, helping employers better understand legal developments and policy considerations. Episodes have covered a range of key topics, including employees leaving companies, employee classification, bonus policies, fixed leave versus unlimited PTO, and AI in the workplace.

Transcript:

**This transcript has been prepared automatically by AI and may contain inaccuracies**

Liz Schlissel:

I’m Elizabeth Schlissel, and this is the Employment Edge with Liz. 

Employees in New York State are some of the most protected employees in the country and New York keeps enacting more and more laws providing greater protections to employees.

For example, this year the New York State enacted a law that provides prenatal leave for its employees. Employees who are pregnant can now take up to 20 hours of additional leave to seek medical services such as attending doctor’s appointments, having tests done, or having procedures done relating to a pregnancy.

This 20 hours of pre-NEDA leave is an addition to sick leave that New York State employees are already eligible to take.

If you have any questions regarding the various types of leaves that employees are able to take in New York State and New York City, please contact your employment attorney at Falcon Rapport & Berkman.