2021 DMEC Virtual Compliance Conference: Paid Family and Medical Leave - What Does the Future Hold?

Paid family and medical leave (PFML) laws continue expanding at a rapid pace, and they are changing the American workplace. Currently, nine states and the District of Columbia have PFML programs, with several more states considering legislation. In 2020, we saw the first federal paid family leave mandate in the COVID-19 relief legislation. To understand where we are going, we need to understand where we are now. This session reviewed current paid family and medical leave laws that have been enacted at the federal, state, and local levels as well as proposed legislation for 2021 and beyond. We discussed the differences between the state PFML programs and the private plan options, and how PFML claims differ from traditional short- and long-term disability claims. We also offered insights into how the new PFML laws that offer job protected leave are affecting the workplace.