6 | 2025 Employment Laws on the Horizon © Seyfarth Shaw LLP Leaves of Absence ME (Eff. 1/1/25 and 1/1/26) – Contributions to ME’s paid FML program begin; benefits begin on May 1, 2026. Employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks of family leave and 12 weeks of medical leave, with a combined max. of 16 weeks of leave. Reasons for leave include sickness, safety, birth, bonding, adoption, organ donation, military family, and bereavement of state service members. Businesses with 15 or more employees will split wage contributions. There is a posting and notice requirement. (L.D. 1964; L.D. 258; Proposed Regulations; Revised Proposed Regulations; Poster (10/24)) NY (Eff. 1/1/25) – The 2025 NY Paid Family Leave law contribution rates increase to 0.388% of an employee’s gross wages with a max. contribution of $354.53 per pay period. The max. weekly benefit amount increases to $1,177.32 per week. (Announcement) WA (Eff. 1/1/25) – The PFML premium rates increase to 0.92% of each employee’s gross wages, not including tips, up to the Social Security cap of $176,100. Employers with 50+ employees must pay 28.48% of the total premium. The max. weekly PFML benefit increases to $1,542.00 per week. (Announcement) DC (Eff. 2/25) – The updated paid family leave poster must be posted. (Poster) MN (Eff. 7/1/25 & 11/1/25) – MN enacted a FML insurance program, funded through a payroll tax, that provides all workers in MN with up to 12 weeks of paid leave for sickness, pregnancy, bonding time, domestic violence victim leave, and military family leave. If leave is needed for more than 1 covered reason, an additional 8 week is provided. There is a notice requirement that takes effect November 1, 2025. Leave is available starting January 1, 2026. (H.F. 2; FAQs). Jury Duty Leave CA (Eff. 1/1/25) – Paid sick leave may be used to cover otherwise unpaid time off while serving on jury duty. (A.B. 2499; Seyfarth Post) Military, Military Leave, & Veteran Posters IL (Eff. 1/1/25) – The definition of “armed forces” and “uniform services” expanded to include the Space Force. (H.B. 5640) RI (Eff. 1/1/25) – Every employer in RI with more than 50 full-time equivalent employees must conspicuously display a veterans benefits poster in the workplace. (H. 7058 / S. 2128) MN (Eff. 7/1/25) – MN’s FML insurance program takes effect; paid benefits begin January 1, 2026 . MN workers may take up to 12 weeks of paid leave including qualifying exigencies: needs arising out of a military member’s active duty including caring for dependents, attending events, spending time with family during a rest and recuperation leave or following return from deployment, and making arrangements following the death of a military member. (H.F. 2) Organ Donor, Wellness, & Misc. Medical Leave ME (Eff. 1/1/25) – ME created a paid FML program that includes leave for organ donation. See Family and Medical Leave Section. Pregnancy, Childbirth, & Bonding Leave DE (Eff. 1/1/25) – The Healthy DE Families Act, which requires employers with 10-24 employees to provide parental leave, begin contributions on January 1, 2025; benefits on January 1, 2026. (Regulations) NY (Eff. 1/1/25) – Employers must provide employees with 20 hours of paid prenatal leave per 52-week period, separate and in addition to sick leave. Personal prenatal leave can be used to receive health care
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