Massachusetts Paid Family & Medical Leave 2026
Last updated: · Source: Massachusetts labor department
Massachusetts · Leave Laws 2026
Federal FMLA
Applies (50+ employees)
State Leave Law
Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave
State Employer Threshold
1+
Paid Family Leave
Massachusetts PFML — up to $1,230/wk
Bereavement Leave
No mandatory law
FMLA in Massachusetts: Federal Leave Protections
Federal FMLA applies to every qualifying employee in Massachusetts the same way it applies nationwide: up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for employees who've worked 12+ months and at least 1,250 hours for an employer with 50+ employees within 75 miles.
Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (MA PFML)
Massachusetts's Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (MA PFML) extends job-protected leave to more workers than federal FMLA alone: it applies to employers with as few as 1 employees, versus the federal threshold of 50. Eligible employees can take up to 12 weeks of leave.
Eligibility test: No minimum tenure. Must have earned at least $6,300 (2026 figure, adjusts annually) in the last 4 completed calendar quarters, and at least 30 times your weekly benefit amount. This is different from federal FMLA's 12-month + 1,250-hour test — don't assume the federal rule applies here.
MA PFML Benefits: How Much You Get Paid
Massachusetts PFML pays eligible workers approximately 80% of their wages, up to $1,230/week, for up to 12 weeks (up to 26 weeks combined per year across leave types). The program has been in effect since 2021-01-01.
80% of wages up to 50% of the state average weekly wage, plus 50% of wages above that, up to the weekly cap. Weeks also vary by reason: up to 12 weeks for bonding/family care, up to 20 weeks for the employee's own serious health condition, capped at 26 combined weeks per benefit year.
| Weeks available | 12 (26 combined max) |
| Wage replacement | 80% (tiered) |
| Max weekly benefit | $1,230 |
| Covers bonding with a new child | Yes |
| Covers caring for a family member | Yes |
| Covers military family leave | Yes |
Apply through the official MA PFML site ↗ Estimate your weekly benefit →
Massachusetts Bereavement Leave: What MA Law Requires
Massachusetts has no law requiring employers to provide bereavement leave. Most employers offer 3–5 days as a matter of policy, not legal obligation — check your employee handbook for your specific employer's bereavement policy.
How MA PFML and FMLA Work Together
When a leave qualifies under both federal FMLA and Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave, the two run concurrently — counting against both entitlements at the same time — and the employee gets whichever protection is more generous on each specific point (employer size, weeks, covered relationships).
Frequently Asked Questions
MA PFML pays 80% of your wages up to a maximum of $1,230 per week for up to 12 weeks of family leave, 20 weeks for your own medical leave, and 26 weeks combined per year. The benefit is funded through employer and employee payroll contributions.
Massachusetts does not have a separate state FMLA law. Instead, MA PFML provides both wage replacement and job protection for covered workers. Federal FMLA still applies for job protection at employers with 50+ employees.