Effective November 21, 2024, Massachusetts has expanded the reasons employees can use Earned Sick Time under an Act Promoting Access To Midwifery Care And Out-Of-Hospital Birth Options to include addressing the employee’s own physical and mental health needs or addressing the physical and mental health needs of an employee’s spouse for situations involving pregnancy loss, failed assisted reproduction, adoption, or surrogacy.
Next Steps
Employers should review and update sick time policies to reflect the new qualifying reasons as well as:
- Develop a communication plan to inform employees about the expanded sick time usage.
- Train human resource staff and managers on the new provisions to ensure proper implementation.
- Update any relevant forms or documentation processes related to sick time requests.
- Consider reviewing overall leave policies to ensure consistency with this change.
- Prepare for potential increased use of sick time and adjust staffing plans accordingly.
- Monitor for any additional guidance from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office regarding the implementation of these changes.
