Starting January 1, 2025, Maine workers will start contributing up to 0.5% of their pay toward a new “Paid Family and Medical Leave” program. This program will allow eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for things like family care, medical issues, or safety concerns.
However, some lawmakers are against the program. Republican Representative Joshua Morris believes that the timing isn’t right, especially with the financial strain people are already facing, like heating bills and winter costs. He argues that taking money from paychecks during these tough times is too much.
On the other hand, some Democrats, like Representative Kristen Cloutier, support the program, saying it helps parents, especially those with newborns or adopting children, and could even help businesses by offering paid leave, making them more competitive with larger companies.
For businesses with 15 or more employees, 1% of workers’ wages will be taken for this program, split between the employer and employee. Smaller businesses will contribute 0.5%, and that will come entirely from the employee’s pay.
While workers begin paying into the program in January, the benefits won’t start until May 2026.