BUFFALO, N.Y. — For New Yorkers who've been forced to decide between going to work or taking care of a new child or elderly loved one, January 1, 2018 is a very important milestone.

"This day is a very personal one for me and for many, many families who can breathe a huge sigh of relief that they don't have to make that impossible choice anymore," Blue Carreker, Citizen Action campaigns manager, said.

Starting at the beginning of the year, employees can take up to eight weeks off at 50 percent of their weekly wage. By 2021, those numbers increase to 12 weeks and 67 percent.

"I think that there's been a tremendous amount of work done by the state and by campaign organizational members, doing presentations, putting out radio, subway, media ads, setting up a hotline, setting up a website people can go to," Carreker said.

Phillips Lytle Partner Jim Grasso said he believes most employers are prepared for the new law to take effect.

"People will get used to it. It's going to be much like disability insurance. It's going to become bureaucratic. People are going to know what to do, how to file their paperwork and what to expect," he said.

The coverage is fully-funded by employee payroll contributions, but Grasso said some concerns do remain about how businesses, particularly small ones, will fill labor gaps. He said it’s also important for employers to understand it's their responsibility to comply with the law.

"Employers have to remember that it's job-protected leave and when someone goes out, they have to come back to their job and they can't be discriminated or retaliated against for taking a leave," Grasso said.

Observers said in the near future, lawmakers may have to address the difference between what employees make on family leave as opposed to disability.

"You could have workers that are getting a really good new benefit from paid family leave but if they're hurt off the job or they're recovering physically from pregnancy, they only get $170 a week. That's kind of a strange combination so I think we need to look at adjusting the other as well," Carreker said.