For employers
Maryland’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program will provide workers with paid time off for important family and health matters. This page will help you understand how FAMLI works, how it differs from other leave programs, and what to expect as the program launches.
Deadlines and responsibilities
The Maryland Department of Labor (MD Labor) is committed to helping you prepare for FAMLI. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth implementation process for you and your employees.
Prepare now: actions you can take today
Sign up for email updates from the FAMLI Division to stay informed.
Additional preparation steps:
- Consider whether the State Plan or a private plan might work best for you and your employees
- Include FAMLI contributions in your future budget planning
- Review how your existing benefits (parental leave, short-term disability, etc.) may interact with FAMLI
- Discuss payroll and administrative system adjustments with your team
- Begin communicating with employees about FAMLI contributions and benefits
- Customize the notice form provided by MD Labor, and share it with employees in writing (coming soon)
Register your business
If you have at least one employee in Maryland, you will be required to register online at paidleave.maryland.gov. There are no exceptions.
You will be able to register on this website starting in Fall 2026. After registration, you will also be able to grant access to a Third-Party Agent (TPA), so they can interact with FAMLI on your behalf.
Registered employers will automatically be enrolled in the State Plan. As an alternative, you can learn more about private plans.
Notify your employees
You will need to notify employees about paid family and medical leave at specific times throughout their employment.
All employers will need to provide notice:
- Starting July 2027 (six months before benefits become available)
- When an employee is hired
- Once per year (annual notice)
- When an employee requests leave using terms such as “paid family and medical leave,” “parental leave,” or “family leave,” or otherwise indicates they want to take FAMLI leave
- When the employer knows the employee is taking leave for a qualifying reason
Employers who collect employee contributions will need to provide notice:
- One pay period before payroll deductions begin
Sample notices
The FAMLI Division will create sample notices for employers to use. To ensure you’re notified when these forms are available, sign up for our email list.
Understand withholding
Beginning with the first pay period in January 2027, you will be able to withhold up to half of the contribution amount from employees’ paychecks each pay period. It is then your responsibility to remit the withheld amount, along with your portion of the contribution at the conclusion of the quarter.
You can learn more about calculating contribution amounts and the rules around withholding.
Submit Quarterly Wage and Hour Reports
Beginning in April 2027, you’ll electronically submit quarterly wage and hour reports to the FAMLI Division—even if you participate in a private plan. These reports will help the FAMLI Division determine employee eligibility.
If you participate in the State Plan, these reports will also be used to:
- Calculate your quarterly contribution amounts
- Determine your payroll size and eligibility for a lower contribution rate
- Calculate employee benefit amounts
Provide job protected leave
You must hold your employee’s position while the employee is on FAMLI leave. The employee should return to the same or an equivalent position. Once the program is live, you must continue your employees’ health benefits while they’re on FAMLI leave. Learn more about how to manage employee leave.
What if I apply for a private plan?
If you apply for and are approved for a private plan, you will still be required to submit wage and hour reports and claims data every quarter. You’ll also be required to keep the following records for at least 5 years:
- Applications submitted and outcomes (approved/denied)
- Benefits paid
- Reconsideration requests and outcomes
- Wage and hour reports
- Employee contributions received
Learn more about private plans