Maryland legislators have enacted a law that will effectively delay the implementation of a program offering wage-replacement and job protection benefits to employees needing time off for medical and family reasons.
The original law was enacted in 2022, amended in 2023 (SB 828), and further delayed (SB 485). The latest amendment delays implementation and makes other clarifications.
The slated implementation date is now July 1, 2025, and includes an additional change to the program on July 1, 2026 (allowing employees to receive wage-replacement benefits when taking leave for a covered reason).
Additionally, SB 485 amends the definition of a covered employee to someone who has worked at least 680 hours in the state over the four most recent quarters.
Another amendment in the state impacts employers providing paid sick leave to employees. Some went into effect May 25, 2024, while others are slated for July 1, 2024.
May 25, 2024 Changes:
- Paid sick leave law covers all employees anticipated to work at least 80 hours in the state for that employer
- Excludes independent contractors, paid on-call and volunteer firefighters, elected officials, and employers of farms, family farms, or farmers (if working fewer than 28 hours
- Employers do not have to provide paid sick leave data on paychecks or wage statements
- Employees using paid sick leave must be paid at base rate
- Employees can use paid sick leave to attend funeral/memorial services, make arrangements for, or address matters arising after a family member’s death (in addition to previously covered acceptable uses for leave)
- If an employee needs to take more than three scheduled workdays off using paid sick leave, the employer may require reasonable documentation
This article is informational and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with an employment lawyer or accountant for additional clarification on how these changes impact your company.
