Maryland Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI)

Maryland's Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program, enacted through the Time to Care Act, will provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave for workers who need time off for their own serious health condition, to care for a family member with a serious health condition, to bond with a new child (including kinship care), for qualifying military exigencies, or to care for a family member who is a covered servicemember. Employer contributions begin January 1, 2027, and benefit payments begin by January 3, 2028.

The program covers most Maryland employees who have worked at least 680 hours during the four most recently completed calendar quarters. Benefits are calculated on a sliding scale: 90% of wages up to 65% of the state average weekly wage (SAWW), plus 50% of wages above that threshold. The minimum weekly benefit is $50 and the maximum is $1,000 (for 2028, adjusted by CPI in subsequent years). There is no waiting period before benefits begin. The total premium rate is 0.90% of wages (up to the Social Security wage base), split 0.45% employer / 0.45% employee. Employers with fewer than 15 employees are exempt from the employer share. Self-employed individuals and independent contractors can opt in.

Covered family members include your child (biological, adopted, foster, stepchild, or in loco parentis), parent (including step, foster, in-law, guardian, or in loco parentis), grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, and domestic partner. Your employer must maintain your group health insurance during FAMLI leave on the same terms as if you were still working.

FAMLI job protection phases in by employer size: employers with 15 or more employees must provide job protection starting January 2027, dropping to 8 or more employees in January 2028. Protected employers must restore workers to the same or equivalent position upon return. During leave, your employer may only terminate you "for cause." The only exception is if reinstatement would cause "substantial and grievous" economic injury to the employer's operations, and the employer provides advance notice. Maryland also provides additional leave protections under the Maryland Flexible Leave Act (for employers with 15+ employees) and the Maryland Parental Leave Act (for employers with 15-49 employees).

Anti-discrimination protections are enforced through the Maryland Fair Employment Practices Act, which prohibits disability discrimination, including mental health conditions, for employers with 15 or more employees. The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR) investigates complaints. Maryland's mental health parity law requires equal insurance coverage for mental health and substance use disorder services.