ALBANY, NY — The NYS Department of Labor is highlighting the state resources that are available to support mothers.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2025 budget expansion includes prenatal care under sick leave benefits so that pregnant women may seek care without worrying about taking time off work. Studies show that regular prenatal medical visits correlate with improved health outcomes for both mothers and infants.

The state workforce now has 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave benefits, and postpartum coverage extends up to a full year after pregnancy for Medicaid and Child Health Plus enrollees. However, the 2023 Gender Wage Gap Report highlights workplace challenges faced by mothers, including remote learning and day care facility closures during the pandemic. The report says temporary exits from the workforce have significant long-term financial implications, and that working mothers earn just 58 cents for every dollar paid to working fathers.

To improve child care accessibility and affordability, Hochul increased the state’s investment to $7.6 billion over four years. Additionally, state programs—such as Career Centers, the Salary Negotiation Guide, apprenticeships and the Coursera partnership—offer counseling for finding careers, opportunities to earn while learning, and free courses for unemployed people.

New York State law ensures workers’ rights to paid sick leave, including caring for sick children and accommodations for nursing mothers. For more information on achieving pay equity, visit the labor department’s Gender Wage Gap Hub at https://nysdolreports.com/gwg.