The state of Massachusetts recently updated the Family and Medical Leave policy based on a law that was passed, establishing a paid family and medical leave program. Depending on the reason for the leave determines the allotted paid time.
This program will allow employees to take up to 12 weeks of paid family leave that can be used in the following areas:
- Caring for a new child (birth, adoption, foster)
- Caring for a family member who suffers from a serious health condition
- Any qualifying urgency that arises out of a family member being on active duty or being notified of an impending call to active duty
In addition, the program will also allow employees up to 20 weeks of paid medical leave that can be utilized to care for one’s own serious health condition. Up to 26 weeks of paid family leave can be utilized in the case that an employee needs to care for a covered service member with a serious health condition.
If you are wondering where the funding is coming from for this program, it will be provided through a payroll tax split between employers and employees.
Although employees are unable to start taking paid leave until January 1, 2021, the notice requirements began going into effect since September 30, 2019.
What this means is that employers are required to:
- Provide a written notice to existing employees with employee acknowledgment (notice must be given by September 30, 2019)
- Notify all new hires (effective October 1, 2019)
- Display an informative workplace poster approved by the Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML)
The start of payroll contributions will begin on October 1, 2019, and the deadline to file for a private plan exemption for first-quarter contributions will be December 20, 2019.
In order to ensure our Company Policies Smart App customers in Massachusetts are in compliance with the new law, we've updated the policy to include the information of the paid family and medical leave program.
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