Our In Focus conversation this weekend centers on Paid Family Leave for workers across New York state.

Debipriya Chatterjee, senior economist with the Community Service Society of New York, joined JoDee Kenney and talked about Paid Family Leave trends which show more and more working New Yorkers are using these benefits each year. For women who are their family’s primary earner, Chatterjee said there is a safety net to spend that critical time with a newborn. As for New York’s non-traditional workforce, particularly in the growing gig economy, Chatterjee talked about the need to provide Paid Family Leave benefits on par with traditional employees. Expanding awareness of Paid Family Leave can have an impact on expanding the program, Chatterjee said, as well as increasing benefits to 90% of pay.

You can watch the full interview with Debipriya Chatterjee above. And be sure to tune in for a look inside the biggest issues impacting upstate New York, on In Focus with JoDee Kenney — every Sunday on Spectrum News 1.