Starting on January 1, 2021, employees in Massachusetts may begin to apply for and receive paid leave under the state’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) law. Most Massachusetts employees will be eligible to take up to 26 weeks of paid leave per benefit year under this law, which is separated out for the following qualifying reasons:

• Up to 20 weeks for a worker’s own serious health condition;
• Up to 12 weeks for a worker to bond with a child after the child’s birth, adoption, or foster care placement, or to address a need arising out of a family member’s active duty or impending call to active duty in the armed forces;
• Up to 26 weeks for the worker to care for a family member who is a covered servicemember with a serious health condition.

Additionally, beginning on July 1, 2021, eligible workers may also take up to 12 weeks to care for a family member with a serious health condition.

For more information about the new PFML law, please see the presentation here. Please note that the information contained in this presentation is subject to change as we receive and review new guidance from the Department of Paid Family and Medical Leave.

Should you need any assistance regarding understanding PMFL benefits or have any specific questions as to how it will impact your business, please feel free to reach out to our team.