Maine State Chamber of Commerce Comments on Revised Paid Family and Medical Leave Rules Announced Today by Maine Department of Labor

​For Immediate Release
Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Media contact: Jen Webber
Cell: 207-939-0213

​AUGUSTA, Maine (Wednesday, August 28, 2024) – The Maine State Chamber of Commerce issued the following statement regarding the Maine Department of Labor’s (MDOL) revised rules governing Maine’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program that were announced today:
 
“The Maine State Chamber of Commerce appreciates the Mills Administration proposing improvements to the Paid Family and Medical Leave program rules and the opportunity to provide additional comments before the program is finalized,” said Maine State Chamber President and CEO Patrick Woodcock. “While the Chamber will provide additional recommendations, the new proposal improves the timeline for utilizing private plans for compliance. We appreciate the hundreds of comments from the Maine business community that provided feedback on this rule and will continue to work with Maine DOL and the Maine Legislature to develop a paid family and medical leave program that provides critical support for households and recognizes the impact on Maine's economy."
 
The Maine State Chamber is encouraged by the Maine DOL’s proposed revisions to the rules in the following areas:
 

• Private plans: The new proposed rule allows employers to declare private plans at least 12 months earlier than the previous rule, which would allow employers and employees alike to reduce the contribution of payroll taxes for a system that will never be utilized.

 

• Hardship: The new proposal revises the ability for businesses to assert a hardship for leave as authorized by the Maine statute. Previously, the language placed the burden on businesses to justify the hardship.

 
For more information on the Maine State Chamber’s previous recommendations to MDOL on the proposed PFML rules, including the Maine State Chamber’s June 10, 2024, public hearing testimony before MDOL and a recording of the Maine State Chamber’s June 6, 2024 roundtable with businesses, please click here or visit www.mainechamber.org/pfml. 

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