Massachusetts has become the 7th state to mandate paid family and medical leave for workers.
Contributions to the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program starts on July 1, 2019 and benefits will be available starting on January 1, 2021. The final regulations for the law will be published by March 31, 2019.
Covered individuals include:
If you're an employee who works for a business or a state or federal governmental agency in Massachusetts, you are automatically covered.
If you’re an independent contractor who contracts with a business that issues 1099s for more than 50% of its workforce, you are also covered and the PFML law refers to you as a "covered individual." Check with any businesses that you work for as a 1099 worker to determine if you are a “covered individual” on this basis.
If you're self-employed, you can opt in to obtain coverage.
If you work for a city, town, or other local governmental employer, you're covered only if your employer chooses to opt in.
Paid family leave is capped at 12 weeks per benefit year and paid medical leave is capped at 20 weeks per benefit year.
This marks a milestone in Massachusetts as the new law will hopefully ease some of the challenges that employment has posed to breastfeeding families.
For more information see https://www.mass.gov/info-details/paid-family-medical-leave-for-employees-faq
