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.
Get more details on how FAMLI works and how it differs from other leave programs.
What you are required to do
If you have at least one employee in Maryland, you are required to register. There are no exceptions under state law.
You are also required to:
- Submit Quarterly Wage and Hour Reports electronically, every quarter through paidleave.maryland.gov, starting in April 2027.
- Remit contributions electronically every quarter, starting in April 2027, unless you are enrolled in a private plan.
- Hold your employee’s position, and continue your employees’ health benefits, while the employee is on FAMLI leave. The employee must return to the same or an equivalent position.
- Notify your employees about paid family and medical leave at specific times throughout their employment.
When you must notify employees
You are required to notify employees about paid family and medical leave at specific times throughout their employment.
All employers must 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 also need to provide notice:
- One pay period before payroll deductions begin
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.
Can a Third-Party Agent (TPA) manage FAMLI tasks on my behalf?
Third-Party Agents (TPAs), including Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) or businesses that provide payroll, HR and/or benefits administration, play an important role in helping employers fulfill their responsibilities under FAMLI.
TPAs cannot register on your behalf. This helps prevent unauthorized enrollment and ensures employers maintain ownership over the account and related implementation decisions.
After you register, your TPA can invite you to sign a Power of Attorney so they can manage FAMLI tasks like submitting quarterly reports, remitting contributions, and responding to claims on your behalf.
Learn more about how TPAs can manage FAMLI tasks for clients.
What if I’m a small employer?
Employers with fewer than 15 employees are considered small employers. If you are a small employer, you have all the same requirements as other employers. However, you are only responsible for remitting 50% of the total rate of contribution each quarter and may withhold that amount from employee pay. Learn more about making contributions.
What if I use a private plan?
If you apply for and are approved for a private plan, you will not remit contributions to the State, but 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
Resources for you
Here are the important documents, resources, and guidance to support you: