Blog Post  Celebrating Equal Access to Paid Family and Medical Leave in Massachusetts

During Pride Month and throughout the year, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) and the Massachusetts Caregiving Coalition want to promote equal access to paid leave benefits for eligible workers available in the Commonwealth.

Caregiving is a critical infrastructure, unlocking opportunities to a attract, retain, and develop a strong, diverse workforce in Massachusetts. Building on the new leadership of the Massachusetts Caregivers Coalition, the EOLWD continues to raise awareness on available caregiving resources for workers and employers. In fact, there are a range of programs and resources available in Massachusetts including several resources managed by state agencies in addition to resources hosted by private, labor, non-profit, and community-based organizations.

Fostering an inclusive workplace requires employers and workers to embrace the diversity of its workforce. Here in Massachusetts, we lead with values—and we are proud that the state’s Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) program has recognized the importance of an inclusive paid leave policy. We believe that employers and employees can achieve greater productivity, as well as improved well-being and quality of life, when they are able to take time off when they need to care for their families. With these values in mind, Massachusetts also strives to lead the nation in inclusive paid leave policy with family bonding and caring leave benefits that support people of all gender identities and sexualities, including LGBTQIA+ families.

Who is Considered a Family Member?

The Massachusetts PFML program provides a broader, inclusive definition of family member compared to other programs, such as the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).  (Learn more about how PFML is different from FMLA.)

For the purposes of PFML eligibility, family members in Massachusetts include:

• Your spouse or domestic partner
• Your children, stepchildren or domestic partner’s children
• Your parents, stepparents or parent’s domestic partner
• Your spouse or domestic partner’s parents
• Your grandchildren, step-grandchildren or domestic partner’s grandchildren
• Your grandparents, step-grandparents, or grandparent’s domestic partner
• Your siblings or step-siblings

Additionally, eligibility may extend to family members who are related through in loco parentis, custodial/non-custodial care, and/or as your legal ward.

Get more detailed information about eligibility for PFML.

What types of bonding and caring leave does Massachusetts offer?

• Caring for a family member: Eligible workers may take up to 12 weeks of paid leave time to care for a family member with a serious health condition as certified by a health care provider. Learn more about caring leave.
• Bonding with your child: Eligible workers may take up to 12 weeks of paid leave time to bond with a child during the first 12 months after birth, adoption, or foster placement. Learn more about bonding leave.
• Military related concerns: Eligible workers may take up to 12 weeks of paid leave to manage affairs while a family member is on active U.S. military duty or up to 26 weeks of paid leave to care for a family member who was injured serving in the armed forces. Learn more about military-related leave.

Paid Family Leave for LGBTQIA+ Families

In Massachusetts, paid family leave is offered to LGBTQIA+ families who meet eligibility requirements to take family leave to bond with a new child, care for a family member with a critical health condition, and/or address certain military family needs. Recognizing Massachusetts has a more inclusive policy compared to many states, EOLWD and the Department of Paid Family Medical Leave have created a guide to Paid Family and Medical Leave for LGBTQIA+ families: Learn More About Paid Family Leave for LGBTQIA+ Families. You can also access this handout version that can be downloaded or printed as an easily sharable resource.  

Questions About PFML?

The Department of Paid Family Medical Leave provides toolkits and one-page info sheets to answer many frequently asked questions about paid family and medical leave in Massachusetts. These resources are available in multiple languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Haitian Creole, French, and Vietnamese.

You can also call the Department of Family and Medical Leave Contact Center at (833) 344-7365 between the hours of 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.