Maryland Leave Laws
Maryland’s leave framework includes a forthcoming statewide Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program, commonly referred to as Maryland FAMLI, plus several currently active protected leave rights. Maryland FAMLI is scheduled to provide paid, job-protected leave beginning in January 2028, while payroll contributions are scheduled to begin in January 2027.
Until FAMLI benefits begin, Maryland’s state-specific leave obligations are concentrated around Earned Sick and Safe Leave, Maryland Parental Leave, organ and bone marrow donation leave, deployment leave, and jury duty protections. Maryland’s Earned Sick and Safe Leave law requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide paid sick and safe leave, while smaller employers must provide unpaid sick and safe leave.
The most important compliance distinction is timing: Maryland has several active leave rights today, while the broader paid family and medical leave program is a future-state requirement.
Maryland Leave Laws
Maryland’s leave framework includes a forthcoming statewide Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program, commonly referred to as Maryland FAMLI, plus several currently active protected leave rights. Maryland FAMLI is scheduled to provide paid, job-protected leave beginning in January 2028, while payroll contributions are scheduled to begin in January 2027.
Until FAMLI benefits begin, Maryland’s state-specific leave obligations are concentrated around Earned Sick and Safe Leave, Maryland Parental Leave, organ and bone marrow donation leave, deployment leave, and jury duty protections. Maryland’s Earned Sick and Safe Leave law requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide paid sick and safe leave, while smaller employers must provide unpaid sick and safe leave.
The most important compliance distinction is timing: Maryland has several active leave rights today, while the broader paid family and medical leave program is a future-state requirement.
State Leave Summary Table
| Field | State-Specific Summary |
| State | Maryland |
| Primary Leave Agencies | Maryland Department of Labor; Maryland FAMLI Division; Maryland General Assembly / Maryland Code; Maryland courts |
| Main Leave Categories | Forthcoming paid family and medical leave, earned sick and safe leave, parental leave, organ and bone marrow donation leave, deployment leave, jury duty leave |
| Federal Interaction | Federal FMLA remains the primary broad family/medical job-protected leave law until Maryland FAMLI benefits begin. Maryland Parental Leave applies to certain smaller employers not covered by federal FMLA, and Maryland FAMLI should be evaluated separately once benefits begin. |
Job Protected Entitlements
| Leave Type | MD Law/ Program | Job Protected | Paid Leave | Covered Employers | Employee Eligibility | Duration |
| Forthcoming State Paid Family / Medical Leave | Maryland Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program, or FAMLI | Yes, beginning when benefits become available | Yes | Maryland employers covered by the program | Eligible employees must meet program requirements; employee guidance states employees qualify after 680 hours worked | Up to 12 weeks of paid, job-protected leave beginning in January 2028; up to $1,000/week under current state guidance |
| Maryland Parental Leave | Maryland Parental Leave Act | Yes | Unpaid | Generally employers with 15-49 employees in Maryland that are not covered by federal FMLA for the current calendar year | Employee has worked for the employer for at least 12 months and 1,250 hours in the prior 12 months | Up to 6 workweeks in a 12-month period for birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child |
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.
Maryland FAMLI
Maryland FAMLI is the state’s forthcoming paid family and medical leave program. Starting in January 2028, eligible employees will be able to take up to 12 weeks of paid, job-protected leave for reasons such as welcoming a new child, addressing a serious health condition, caring for a loved one, or managing urgent family needs related to deployment. Contributions are scheduled to begin in January 2027.
Maryland Parental Leave
The Maryland Parental Leave Act provides eligible employees of certain smaller employers with up to 6 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected parental leave in a 12-month period for the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child. The employee must generally have worked for the employer for at least 12 months and 1,250 hours in the prior 12 months.
*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.