WATCH: Maryland FAMLI Webinar

In this webinar, Lerch Early employment attorneys discuss Maryland’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program as it moves into its implementation phase, bringing important decisions and compliance deadlines for employers with employees working in Maryland.

Beginning January 1, 2027, employers will enter the program’s “seeding” period, with paid family and medical leave benefits scheduled to become available to eligible employees on January 1, 2028. Maryland FAMLI will provide paid, job-protected leave for qualifying reasons including bonding with a new child, an employee’s or family member’s serious health condition, and certain military caregiving and deployment needs.

Lerch Early employment attorneys Julie Reddig, Jessie Summers, and Tiffany McClease provide a practical overview of Maryland FAMLI requirements, upcoming employer deadlines, the state and private plan options, and steps employers should be taking now to prepare for implementation.

https://youtu.be/yTokAPcFQuc

Click the link to download the slides: https://bit.ly/4zRwroz

Among the key issues covered are:

  • Maryland FAMLI registration requirements. Employers with at least one employee working in Maryland must register for the program.
  • The state plan versus a private plan. Employers may participate in Maryland’s state-administered program or seek approval for a commercially insured or self-insured private plan that meets FAMLI requirements.
  • The November 15, 2026 private-plan deadline. Employers seeking the private-plan path for the 2027 seeding period must file a Declaration of Intent by November 15, 2026. The private-plan application itself is due October 1, 2027.
  • 2027 Maryland FAMLI contribution rates. How the new contribution requirements will affect Maryland employers and employees, including differences based on employer size.
  • Employee notices, payroll withholding and reporting. The implementation period includes requirements surrounding employee communications, payroll deductions, quarterly wage and hour reports, and contribution remittances.
  • How FAMLI fits with existing leave and benefits. Employers should be considering how Maryland FAMLI will interact with their existing leave, disability and benefits programs before benefits become available in 2028.

For employers evaluating their options, the decision involves more than contribution rates. The state plan offers a standardized approach in which the state handles benefit claims, while a private plan may offer opportunities for integration with existing disability and leave administration but brings additional implementation and oversight considerations.