2024 state paid family and medical leave contributions and benefits
As of July 2024, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Washington, and Washington, DC, mandate paid leave for an employee’s own serious health condition or disability. Except for Hawaii and Puerto Rico, these jurisdictions also require paid family leave to bond with a new child, care for a seriously ill or injured family member, and handle certain other matters. Despite some common elements, differences in these laws make compliance and administration particularly challenging for multistate employers.
In addition, two states — New Hampshire and Vermont — have adopted voluntary paid family and medical leave (PFML) insurance programs. Eight states — Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia — permit life and disability insurers to write group family leave insurance (FLI) policies for employers.
Download the 45-page GRIST for full details on mandatory and voluntary PFML programs. The introduction highlights 2024 updates to mandatory PFML programs and recent changes to voluntary programs. A detailed table digests key elements of mandatory PFML programs, such as:
- Covered employers
- Eligible employees
- Leave duration
- Family member definition
- Public and private plans
- Employer contribution
- Employee contribution
- Benefit calculation
- Base period
- Maximum weekly benefit
- Waiting period
- Job protections
- Employer notice
For each jurisdiction, the chart includes links to legal cites, agency websites and Mercer resources.