Maine’s new paid leave law is the result of years
of research and hard work - all to get it right.
Paid Family and Medical Leave is available in Maine.
Applications for leave starting May 1 or after are available through Maine Department of Labor. To learn more and apply visit:
The new law establishing Maine’s Paid Family & Medical Leave Program is based on models that work in many other states.
Download a one-page document of this information & some examples by clicking on the image below!
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The program covers almost all Maine workers. This includes full-time, part-time and seasonal workers. There are some exceptions including: federal employees, individuals who are incarcerated, those who only work is through a work-study program. Self-employed workers and tribal governments can also opt into the program.
Workers will need to earn at least 6 times Maine's average weekly wage in the 12 months before their benefits begin. Maine’s current average weekly wage is about $1200.
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The PFML premium is 1% of wages. This split between employees and employers, the employee covers 0.5% and the employer covers the other 0.5%. If you are a small employer with less than 15 employees, you do not have to pay the employer contribution to the fund - and your staff can still be covered by the program if they meet other program requirements. Self-employed workers will only pay the employee contribution.
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People can take leave for specific reasons. This includes to care for themselves or a family member with a serious health condition, to bond with a child after birth, adoption, or foster placement, time to prepare for a family member’s military deployment, and leave for victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking.
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A person can take up to 12 weeks for a qualified reason in a benefit year. If a worker qualifies for other state or federal unpaid family and medical leave laws, paid leave must be taken at the same time. The weekly benefit is determined by a person's income. It is capped at the state's average weekly wage, which is about $1,200 a week.
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After 120 days of employment at a job, a person who takes leave is entitled to their job or an equivalent when they return to work.
Paid Family & Medical Leave:
Program Timeline
OCT 2023
PFML Program officially
becomes law!
JAN 2024
PFML Authority appointed.
Public input sessions begin.
SPRING 2024
PFML Program rulemaking begins.
JAN 2025
Payroll contributions to the
PFML fund contributions begin.
