ANNAPOLIS, Md. — One of the largest struggles facing the everyday person is a lack of time off for workers. There are dozens of valid reasons an employee may need paid leave, including injury, pregnancy, or a death in the family.
Workers are often denied leave when they need it most, leading to nationwide frustration for those trying to make ends meet. Employers are commonly resistant to providing benefits, and many companies either don’t provide leave for common issues or don’t supply benefits to employees who take leave.
However, a solution is brewing in the form of the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Law (FAMLI). This law would change the landscape of eligible benefits for those who take an absence from work due to a valid reason, such as receiving medically necessary care.
Though there are some critics of the FAMLI law, it will likely positively impact the lives of millions of employees in Maryland. Those who work for an employer located in Maryland and need to take time off work will soon be eligible for benefits. Family members may also count toward leave eligibility, including children, parents, spouses, and siblings, among others.
The FAMLI law won’t be fully active until July 1, 2026, when benefits will be offered to employees on leave in Maryland. Multiple provisions will take effect on various dates throughout 2025 and 2026. On July 1, 2025, employers will begin payroll deductions to fund the program.
To become eligible for paid leave, employees must work 680 hours in four calendar quarters. Additionally, employees do not need to reside in Maryland; working in the state is sufficient for eligibility.
The Maryland.gov website explains the benefits of the new law for hardworking employees, stating, “Starting July 1, 2026, workers will be able to take time away from work to care for themselves or a family member and still be paid up to $1,000 a week for up to 12 weeks.”
This means some workers may be eligible for up to $4,000 per month, a significant amount for those on paid leave. According to the FAMLI webpage, the terms for both employers and workers are as follows:
- Worker: Anyone who receives a salary or wage for work done in Maryland. Workers do not include independent contractors or federal government employees.
- Employer: Anyone who pays a salary or wage to at least one person who works in Maryland. The federal government is excluded from participating in FAMLI.
A 2023 paper by H. Kristl Davison highlights the benefits of providing paid leave to workers. One of its key conclusions is that while employees cost more when provided with paid leave, it increases work ethic and reduces turnover.
A few of the stated reasons a worker can receive paid leave include tending to the health of themselves or a family member, adding a child to their home, or helping organize the intricacies of a family member’s deployment into the U.S. military.
Excluding the federal government, every employer in Maryland will be required to provide insurance for medical and family leave. The FAMLI law may strengthen the financial security of millions of Maryland residents, which is why it’s being implemented as soon as 2026.
To learn more about the upcoming changes to paid leave, visit Maryland.gov.
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