Right now, around 100 Mainers are out on paid leave from work through the state’s new Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave program, which kicked off on May 1.
The new program guarantees most Mainers 12 weeks of paid leave each year either for illness, to care for a family member or bond with a new baby, to prepare for a family member’s military deployment, or to seek safety after experiencing abuse or violence.
“I think it’s an exciting time for Maine workers and businesses,” said Luke Monahan, the director of the program. “It’s a whole new transformational program of how we’re going to approach work and life in Maine going forward.”
So far, the state has received about 2000 applications for leave. More than half are related to pregnancy or bonding time for a baby, a third are medical leave claims and 10% are for taking care of a family member with a serious health condition, Monahan said.
Monahan walked the Bangor Daily News through how to apply for leave:
Where do I start?
The first step is to talk to your employer, Monahan says. That’s because about a third of Maine’s workforce is covered by their employer, not the state, so it’s important to know who you should be applying to for leave. Workers are expected to give “reasonable notice” to employers, which is typically 30 days, though it can be less in urgent situations, Monahan said.
How do I apply?
If you are applying to the state program, you can get more information on the process here and fill out the application here.
How much money will I get?
It depends. The payment is capped at the state’s average weekly wage, which is currently $1,199.84. A worker who makes $25,000 per year can expect to get paid $433.00 per week while on leave, while someone making $50,000 would get $779. Find more specifics here.
What if I only work part-time or sporadically?
You are eligible as long as you made around $7,200 or more the prior year.
Can my boss say no?
No, but they potentially have some say on timing, Monahan said. Maine is the 13th state to institute a paid leave program, but the only one that has a provision for employers to give input. That doesn’t mean employers can veto an employees’ leave, Monahan says. But it does mean that they can tell the administrator of the leave that the timing would create hardship, and the administrator can choose to adjust the leave schedule accordingly.
Can taking leave put my job at risk?
If you have been at your job for at least 120 consecutive days, your job is protected while you’re on leave, Monahan says. “You cannot be treated differently due to your request for leave,” he said. “That is a basic tenet and right under the law.” Any worker who feels they have been retaliated against for taking leave can file a complaint with the state’s leave program, Mohanan said.
What about self-employed people?
The program covers self-employed people, but only if they pay into it. Find out more here.
How soon can I apply, and can I apply after the fact?
You can apply for paid leave up to 60 days before your leave starts, but it’s also retroactive. You can apply for benefits up to 90 days after the start of your leave.
Can I take leave every year?
As long as you have a qualifying reason, you can take 12 weeks of leave every year, Monahan says. “There are people that may need it once in their life, and there are people that may need it several times based on their circumstances or a chronic illness,” he said.
