BCW Joins Coalition Urging Governor to Veto Paid Family Leave Expansion

Legislation that was recently passed that would expand the Paid Family Leave Law to include bereavement time is poorly written and would hurt small businesses. That’s the message that a coalition of business groups, including the Business Council of Westchester, sent to Governor Andrew Cuomo.

In a letter to Cuomo, the group urged him to veto the legislation, which does not appear to limit the amount of time employees can take for bereavement leave or when they can take it.

“The Business Council of Westchester is strongly opposed to this legislation in its current form,’’ said John Ravitz, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the BCW. “While we are sympathetic to the need for bereavement leave, the legislation as written contains no restrictions on the amount of time or how long, after a death, employees can take time. We are asking the Governor to veto this legislation which will create a burden on all employers, but especially on small businesses.’’

Business groups had recommended limiting bereavement leave to several weeks, to be used within 180 days of a family member’s death, but these were rejected by both the Senate and Assembly sponsor.

The legislation was passed in the closing days of the 2018 legislative session and has yet to be presented for gubernatorial review.