percent used only paid leave, 30 percent combined paid and unpaid leave, and 15 percent took un- paid leave (Figure 6a). While mothers and fathers were similarly likely to use paid versus unpaid leave, lower-income parents and Black, Hispanic, and AAPI parents were significantly more likely than high- er-income and white parents to take only unpaid leave. The lowest-income working parents (those Figure 6: Paid vs Unpaid Leave
Paid leave only Paid and unpaid leave Unpaid leave only Unp FPL) Unpaid leave only (100-199% FPL) Unpaid leave only (200% FP
below 100 percent of FPL) are significantly less likely than higher-income parents to use paid leave, with 42 percent taking only unpaid leave (Figure 6b). 18 Among those NYC parents who did take paid leave, the State’s Paid Family Leave program and employer-sponsored policies are the most commonly used types, with 65 percent of parents using the State program and 54 percent using their employer’s benefit. How- ever, more parents may be eligible for New York State Paid Family Leave (NYS PFL) than take it: 36 percent of parents who took leave other than NYS PFL reported that they were unaware of the program. Slightly more than one in three (35 percent) parents used vaca- tion time, about one in four (24 percent) used paid sick leave, and one in five (20 percent) used temporary disability insurance. 19 At 45 percent, Black parents were significantly more likely to have used paid vacation time (versus 33 percent of white parents), while white parents more often used an employ- er-sponsored paid leave policy (61 percent versus 50 percent of Black parents). Although New York State Paid Family Leave (NYS PFL) offers up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave, 28 percent of parents who used the program took less time than that. When this group was asked why they took less than 12 weeks, 31 percent shared that their work makes it hard to be away longer, while roughly one in four (24 percent) said they simply cannot afford financially to take a longer leave. New York’s 18 When asked why they did not take New York State Paid Family Leave, the most common responses of parents who took only unpaid leave were that they were not aware of it or did not think they were eligible. However, sample size is small for this subpopulation. 19 Percentages here do not total 100 percent as parents often stack multiple benefits and could select more than one response option. 30% 15% Unpaid leave only
55%
Leave Type Taken by Parents
60%
60%
55%
50%
50%
40%
40%
30%
30%
30%
20%
20%
15%
Figure 6: Paid vs Unpaid Leave
10%
10%
0% Paid leave only Paid and unpaid leave Unpaid leave only Unpaid leave only (<100% FPL) Unpaid leave only (100-199% FPL) Unpaid leave only (200% FPL+)
0%
Unpaid leave only
Paid leave only Paid and unpaid leave
55%
Use of Unpaid Leave Only, by Income
Notes: Source: Robin Hood 60%
60%
55%
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42%
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28%
30%
30%
20%
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8%
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Unpaid leave only (<100% FPL)
Unpaid leave only (100- 199% FPL)
Unpaid leave only (200% FPL+)
Paid leave only Paid and unpaid leave
Note: Based on responses from 3,246 parents who took time off of work when their youngest child was born. Source: Survey of 4,306 parents and caregivers of children ages 0-5 living in New York City; conducted by NORC for New America's New Practice Lab and Robin Hood, March 31 - April 20, 2026.
Notes: Source: Robin Hood
THE 2026 NEW YORK CITY PARENT SURVEY : WHAT CHILD CARE PARENTS WANT 20
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