Important updates to the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave law (“MA PFML”) are going into effect in 2023. As of January 1, 2023, the Department of Family and Medical Leave (“DFML”) has revised the contribution rates and benefit amounts, as follows:
1. Benefit Amount: Maximum weekly benefits under the MA PFML are increasing from $1,084.31 to $1,129.82 per week.
2. Contribution Rate:
· For employers with 25 or more covered individuals, the employer contribution rate will be lowered from 0.68% to 0.63% of eligible employee wages (comprised of 0.52% for medical leave and 0.11% for family leave).
· For employers with 25 or less covered individuals, the employer contribution rate will be lowered from 0.344% to 0.318% (comprised of 0.208% for medical leave and 0.11% for family leave).
Employers are required to communicate these changes to employees by December 2, 2022. The 2023 sample notices issued by the DFML can be found here: PFML workforce notifications and rate sheets for Massachusetts employers | Mass.gov. These notices do not need to be signed by current employees, who have already signed a notice. However, as a reminder, all new employees must be provided with a notice within 30 days of their hire. The notice must be signed by the employee.
The 2023 mandator workplace poster can be found here: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5bcd43d30b77bd0e400a159f/t/63a39a1ede529b16f2a423cd/1671666206333/Paid+Family+and+Medical+Leave+mandatory+workplace+poster_2023.pdf
For those employers who have include the notice in an employee handbook, notify employees that the 2023 MA PFML notice replaces the one contained (or referenced) in the handbook.