New York State Paid Family Leave (“PFL”) Premium Increase
Effective January 1, 2026, eligible employees are required by state law to have PFL premiums deducted from their paychecks.
The premium will increase from .388% to .432% of the weekly wage capped at New York’s average weekly wage, which will be $1,833.63 per week. The maximum deduction will be $15.84 biweekly ($411.91 per year). As a reminder, eligible employees can receive Paid Family Leave benefits through New York’s disability benefit law. PFL provides eligible employees with job protection and partial wage replacement for the following:
- Bonding with a child during the first 12 months after the birth, adoption, or fostering of a child.
- Caring for a spouse, domestic partner, child, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent or grandchild, and sibling with a serious health condition.
- Assisting loved ones when a spouse, child, domestic partner, or parent is deployed abroad on active military duty.
Paid Family Leave benefits offer participants a percentage of the employee’s average weekly wage, or of the State’s average weekly wage (“SAWW”), $1,833.63 for 2026, whichever is less.
- As of January 2026, the benefit is a maximum payment of 67% of the SAWW capped at $1,228.35 per week and a twelve-week leave period.
Further information can be found at . ĢƵ's Paid Family leave policy can be found here under Family Leave.
Mammogram Screenings
ĢƵ is once again partnering with Community Memorial Hospital for mammogram screenings.
ĢƵ employees who sign up will receive a call from CMH staff members who will complete the registration process and collect insurance information ahead of time, allowing for a reduced wait time on the day of the appointment.
Community Memorial is committed to partnering with our community to stay safe and healthy! Ensure you’re up to date with your vital annual screenings. Our brand-new Radiology Department features a private women’s imaging suite with state-of-the-art technology to make it easy for you to get your annual screenings, close to home. Our certified technologists have years of specialty imaging experience and will provide you with compassionate, care-focused women’s healthcare.
ĢƵ EAP Resources
BRiDGES EAP is a workplace benefit that provides assessment, referral, and short-term counseling to employees and their immediate family members. All callers will receive up to five free sessions per issue per year with an EAP professional for confidential support.
BRiDGES is available by phone Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 315-697-3947. In-person, virtual, and phone sessions are available by completing the appointment request form.
Should you need assistance after 5 p.m. you can still call BRiDGES at 315-697-3947. You may leave a message and your call will be returned during regular business hours. Evening appointments are available by appointment only. In the event of a crisis Behavioral Health Telemedicine through Excellus and HigherED EAP are available 24/7, please see below to contact them. If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911.
Utilize their new online Employee Resource Portal. Through the portal, employees have access to a growing library of articles, tip sheets, and wellness tools anytime. Whether you're looking for support strategies, self-care ideas, or ways to navigate workplace stress, the portal is available to you 24/7.
Check it out at our website and use password: Wellness 2025 to gain entry.
HigherEd EAP offers 24/7 access to counselors, extensive links, tools, and resources to help higher education personnel deal with professional challenges. To access this benefit, call the EAP at 1-800-252-4555 or log on to the website: .
Here are some of the numerous options ESI EAP offers to help you grow and learn. (Please Note: To access these benefits you must be logged into the EAP website):
- Personal & Professional Development Trainings – Explore thousands of free online personal & professional development trainings in multiple user-friendly formats on work skills, wellness, technology, safety, and more. Try micro-learning in short bursts of 10 minutes or less, or dive deeper on key topics in eLearning of 30+ minutes.
- Monthly Webinars – Your EAP issues new webinars on personal and family related topics monthly.
- Career & Education Resources – Find links to resources for Career Exploration and Planning; Finding the Right College; Financial Aid and Scholarships; and Vocational, Military and Other Career Resources.
- Financial Fitness Center – Learn about money matters, from budgeting to investing. Explore hundreds of interactive tutorials to help you get answers to all your questions about money!
Behavioral Telemedicine (for those enrolled in ĢƵ’s health insurance plan), through a partnership with MDLIVE, allows you to schedule a consultation with a psychiatrist or therapist 24/7 via phone, tablet, or computer — wherever and whenever you need to. No 20% coinsurance imposed.
Telemedicine (1-866-692-5045) (for those enrolled in ĢƵ’s health insurance plan). Our doctors are always in. Get care in minutes, 24/7/365. Talk to a board-certified doctor in 15 minutes or less for trusted, reliable care whenever and wherever you need it. MDLIVE is your affordable alternative to urgent care clinics or the ER. No long waits, drive times, or germ-filled offices. See how .
MDLIVE board-certified doctors have an average of 15 years of experience and provide care for , including:
Allergies Insect bites Sinus problems
Cold & flu Pink eye Sore throat
Ear pain Prescriptions UTIs
Headaches Rashes and more
Madison County Mental Health Department (315-366-2327, option 1), The mental health department offers a crisis line 24 hours a day. You can call 315-366-2327 and press 1. During business hours, this line goes to office staff, where clients may ask to speak to an available clinician. Individuals are also seen at the office on an emergency, walk-in basis.
Retirement Planning
Fidelity
Virtual Fidelity appointments can be scheduled online at (search ĢƵ and virtual appointments) or by calling 1-800-642-7131.
TIAA
Virtual TIAA appointments can be scheduled or by calling 800-732-8353.
Appointments are available on December 17, 2025.