Maine Leave Laws
Maine has a developed state leave framework that includes both a statewide Paid Family and Medical Leave program and an older unpaid Maine Family Medical Leave Requirements Act. Maine also has a broad Earned Paid Leave law that provides paid time off for any reason, as well as protected leave for victims of violence and jury service.
The most important compliance distinction in Maine is that PFML provides paid benefits and job protection for eligible employees, while the Maine Family Medical Leave Requirements Act provides unpaid job-protected leave for eligible employees of covered worksites. Earned Paid Leave is not a traditional extended leave of absence program, but it is a paid leave bank that can be used for any reason and should be coordinated with other leave workflows. Employers overseeing compliance across several jurisdictions can review how Maine compares with other state leave laws.
Maine Leave Laws
Maine has a developed state leave framework that includes both a statewide Paid Family and Medical Leave program and an older unpaid Maine Family Medical Leave Requirements Act. Maine also has a broad Earned Paid Leave law that provides paid time off for any reason, as well as protected leave for victims of violence and jury service.
The most important compliance distinction in Maine is that PFML provides paid benefits and job protection for eligible employees, while the Maine Family Medical Leave Requirements Act provides unpaid job-protected leave for eligible employees of covered worksites. Earned Paid Leave is not a traditional extended leave of absence program, but it is a paid leave bank that can be used for any reason and should be coordinated with other leave workflows.
State Leave Summary Table
| Field | State-Specific Summary |
| State | Maine |
| Primary Leave Agencies | Maine Department of Labor; Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave Program; Maine Legislature / Maine Revised Statutes |
| Main Leave Categories | Paid family and medical leave, unpaid family medical leave, earned paid leave, domestic violence / victim leave, jury duty leave |
| Federal Interaction | Maine PFML and Maine family medical leave should be evaluated separately from federal FMLA. Some employees may qualify under multiple laws depending on employer coverage, tenure, worksite size, and reason for leave. |
Job Protected Entitlements
| Leave Type | ME Law/ Program | Job Protected | Paid Leave | Covered Employers | Employee Eligibility | Duration |
| State Family / Medical Leave | Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave | Yes, if employee has worked for employer for at least 120 consecutive days | Yes | Statewide PFML program | Eligible workers may apply beginning May 2026 | Up to 12 weeks in a benefit year |
| Family Medical Leave | Maine Family Medical Leave Requirements Act | Yes | May be unpaid | Employers/worksites with 15+ employees, subject to statute | Employee employed by same employer for 12 consecutive months | Up to 10 workweeks in any 2 years |
Job-Protected Leave Entitlement Descriptions
These laws create a protected right to take time away from work and generally require the employer to preserve employment rights, restore the employee to the same or comparable position, or otherwise avoid interference or retaliation.
Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave
Maine PFML is the state’s primary paid family and medical leave program. Beginning in May 2026, eligible workers can apply for up to 12 weeks of paid leave for medical, parental, family care, military family, or safe leave reasons. For a closer look at when Maine Paid Leave benefit payments begin on May 1, 2026, see our detailed program breakdown. Maine’s PFML guidance states that employees who have worked for their employer for at least 120 consecutive days receive job protection.
Maine Family Medical Leave Requirements Act
Maine’s older family medical leave law provides eligible employees with up to 10 workweeks of family medical leave in any 2 years. The employee generally must have worked for the same employer for 12 consecutive months, and the entitlement does not apply if the employee works at a permanent worksite with fewer than 15 employees. The leave may be unpaid. Worksite-size thresholds like this vary sharply between states, as a comparison with Washington leave laws makes clear.
Maine Earned Paid Leave
Maine Earned Paid Leave is a paid leave bank rather than a traditional long-form LOA statute. It applies to employers with more than 10 employees in Maine for more than 120 days in a calendar year. Employees accrue 1 hour of earned paid leave for every 40 hours worked, and the leave can be used for any reason, including illness, emergency, sudden necessity, planned vacation, or other personal needs. Because this bank overlaps with other entitlements, many Maine employers track accruals and usage inside dedicated leave management software.
*State Leave Law Summaries are for informational purposes only and are subject to change. To the extent possible, we will update these leave laws as and when States update their policies. However, there may be a time lag. Further, for specific applicability with a personal situation, Qcera advises contacting your employer’s HR department for support.