Introduction of Paid Family Leave and Paid Medical Leave
Paid family leave and paid medical leave are the latest benefit programs proposed by the U.S. House of Representatives. Currently, eight U.S. states and Washington, D.C., have implemented or are in the process of implementing paid family and medical leave insurance programs. The following section explains the benefits and lists the three states that have implemented programs.
- Paid Family Leave Insurance Program
Paid Family Leave typically refers to a policy that allows employees to take time off from work to care for a family member who is ill, injured, or needs assistance. This can include caring for a child, spouse, parent, or other close family members. Paid family leave is often granted for reasons such as childbirth, adoption, or to care for a family member with a serious health condition.
- Paid Medical Leave Insurance Program
Paid Medical Leave refers to a policy that allows employees to take time off from work to address their own medical needs. This can include time off for personal illness, injury, or to undergo medical treatments or procedures.
- Which states have implemented paid family and medical leave insurance programs?
(1)
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New York
New York Paid Family Leave is insurance funded by employees through payroll deductions. In brief, it is purchased by the employer from the insurance company but deducted from the employee’s paychecks.
Full-time employees who regularly work 20 hours or more per week and have completed 26 weeks of consecutive employment; and part-time employees who work less than 20 hours per week and have completed 175 days (not required to be consecutive) are eligible for this benefit.
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(2)
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California
California Paid Family Leave is funded entirely by employees through State Disability Insurance (SDI) deductions from their paychecks.
Employees eligible for this benefit include part-time or full-time employees in the public or private sector who have contributed to the State Disability Insurance Program (SDI); self-employed Californians who have contributed to the Disability Insurance Optional Benefit Program (DIOB) in the past 18 months; and employees who have suffered a loss of wages due to the need to take time off from work to care for a seriously ill family member, to give birth to a child, or to participate in a family member’s military activities.
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(3)
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Massachusetts
Paid Family and Medical Leave is funded through employee and employer contributions. Employees?contribution is paid through their payroll or wage withholdings. Employers are only required to send an employer contribution if they have 25 or more covered individuals in their workforce.
The Paid Family and Medical Leave’s law covers most Massachusetts employees who have earned at least $5,700 (in 2022) or $6,000 (in 2023) over the past 4 calendar quarters. In addition, you must have earned at least 30 times the benefit amount that you are eligible for.
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Reference:
https://paidfamilyleave.ny.gov/
https://www.ny.gov/new-york-paid-sick-leave/new-york-paid-sick-leave#amount-of-leave
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/paid-family-and-medical-leave-pfml-overview-and-benefits
https://www.osc.state.ny.us/reports/new-yorks-paid-family-leave-program
https://edd.ca.gov/en/disability/faq_pfl_eligibility/
https://www.mass.gov/guides/employers-introduction-to-paid-family-and-medical-leave |
