Maryland’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FMLI) program implementation has been further delayed. Here’s what you need to know:
- Employers will not be required to start contributions until July 1, 2025, previously set to begin on October 1, 2024.
- Employees will not be eligible to receive benefits until July 1, 2026, previously set to begin on January 1, 2025.
This delay allows the Maryland Department of Labor more time to finalize the program’s administration and answer any questions employers may have.
For background, the Maryland Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program allows employees working in Maryland to take up to 12 or 24 weeks of job-protected, paid leave per year.
The program will be funded by employer and employee payroll tax contributions. Although all employers in the state are required to provide leave, only employers with 15 or more employees company-wide must contribute to the program. The contribution rate will be 0.90% of covered wages up to the Social Security cap and will be equally divided between workers and employers.
Employers will have the option to provide insurance through the State Plan, a commercial plan, or a self-insured option.
Next Steps
Covered employers should familiarize themselves with the program details as the July 2025 contribution start date approaches. The Maryland Department of Labor website has more information about FMLI, including resources for employers.
HR Works will continue to monitor this topic and provide additional updates as they become available.
