California: Update
Connecticut: Update
Massachusetts: Update
Oregon: Update
Rhode Island: Update
Washington: Update
California
Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed SB 83 which expands the maximum duration of paid family leave benefits from six to eight weeks beginning on July 1, 2020. The bill also calls for a task force to be created to assess and address job protection for employees, wage replacement rates up to 90 percent for low wage workers and provide a plan to implement and fund expanded paid family leave benefits to 12 weeks per employee (6 months total for parents taking paid family leave in succession). Governor Newsom will present the task force’s findings to the Legislature in November 2019.
Connecticut
On June 25, 2019, Governor Ned Lamont signed SB 1 which will create the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program, requiring employers to provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave per year. Payroll contributions will begin January 1, 2021 with benefits payable beginning January 1, 2022.
Massachusetts
If you provided written notices regarding Paid Family and Medical Leave to your workforce prior to the June 14 delay announcement, you will need to provide them with an updated rate sheet explaining the new dates and contribution rates. This sheet does not have to be signed by the covered individual and can be sent electronically -you’ll need to keep a record of its distribution. This process will need to be completed each time that the rate changes.
Rate sheet for employers with 25 or more employees: click here.
Rate sheet for employers with less than 25 employees: click here.
Oregon
Oregon will become the eighth state to approve paid family and medical leave benefits when Governor Kate Brown signs House Bill 2005. The bill will provide workers who earned at least $1,000 in a year with 12 weeks of paid leave for their own serious health condition, to care for a sick family member, to bond with a new baby, or to deal with issues related to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or harassment. The cost will be split 60-40 between workers and employers with contributions beginning in 2022 and benefits beginning in 2023. Businesses with fewer than 25 employees would not have to contribute. Benefits will be based on the eligible employee’s average weekly wage.
Rhode Island
As of July 1, 2019, the Rhode Island Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) maximum weekly benefit has increased to $867.00 with the dependent allowance increasing to $1,170.00 (for 5 dependents).
Washington
The reporting deadline for quarters one and two has been extended from July 31, 2019 to August 31, 2019 to ensure employers have enough time to set up their account, file and pay for both quarters. For more information, please refer to the Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave website reporting page: https://www.paidleave.wa.gov/reporting.
