Thousands of more New York workers will have access to 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave after Gov. Kathy Hochul reached an updated contractual agreement with the state Civil Service Employees Association, Public Employees Federation and United University Professions labor unions. 

The benefit will provide up to 12 weeks of fully paid leave for mothers and fathers bringing a new baby, fostered or adopted child home.

The agreements, if ratified, will offer the program to members of the state's largest labor unions, including than 88,000 employees within PEF and UUP and more than 52,000 employees in the CSEA — covering more than 80% of New York's workforce.

"We want to make sure that we break down the stigma or any barriers to men feeling that they cannot take the time to be with their child because they will never regret a moment of it," Hochul said at the Albany Labor Temple on Tuesday morning. "They'll never regret being home."

The expanded benefit will boost workforce retention statewide, a family's economic security and improve maternal health. Women's participation in the workforce significantly declined in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

CSEA's agreement has been signed, while PEF and UUP's agreements remain pending, according to the governor's office.

The United States is the only developed country in the world without a national paid parental leave policy. 

The Labor Department will also begin an advertising campaign to raise awareness for fathers to take paid time off when welcoming a new child into the family. It was recommended in the department's 2023 Gender Wage Gap Report.

"By removing financial barriers and ensuring time for bonding with their newborns, the expansion of New York's paid parental leave program empowers parents to embrace this transformative journey without sacrificing their economic security," state Labor Department Commissioner Roberta Reardon said in a statement. "This bold step reaffirms Gov. Hochul's commitment to supporting working parents and recognizing the invaluable role they play in shaping our future. We stand united in our mission to build a society where every family can thrive, and this benefit is a giant leap towards that vision."

The governor first announced her plan to extend paid family leave for more state workers in her January State of the State address.