Family and Medical Leave Policy
(with Acknowledgment) (MA)

Summary

This template is a family and medical leave policy that sets forth the rights and obligations of employees taking family and medical leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) from a Massachusetts employer. This template contains practical guidance, drafting notes, and alternate clauses. The template is intended for private employers. Employers may include this policy in an employee handbook or distribute it as a standalone policy. The template's language has been customized to comply with Massachusetts and federal law. As a result, from the text of this template differs from the non-jurisdictional Family and Medical Leave Policy (with Acknowledgment). Paragraphs , , and address leave issues under Massachusetts law. Eligible employees may participate in Massachusetts' paid family and medical leave (PFML) program. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 175M, § 1 et seq. This template has been edited to comply with the PFML law to help you draft policies affected by the PFML law. Massachusetts also currently has a sick leave law: the Massachusetts Paid Sick Leave Act, with which this policy complies. 940 Code Mass. Regs. 33.04. See Paid Sick Leave Policy (with Acknowledgment) (MA). The drafting notes and alternate clauses address issues under both Massachusetts and federal law. This template does not address pregnancy-related leave. For information on pregnancy-related leave, see Pregnancy Discrimination Act: Compliance Tips and Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation (MA) — Pregnancy-Related Protections. For pregnancy and parental leave policies, see Pregnancy and Parental Leave Policy (with Acknowledgment) and Pregnancy and Parental Leave Policy (with Acknowledgment) (MA). For information on drafting pregnancy and parental leave policies, see Pregnancy and Parental Leave Policy Checklist. For a full listing of key content that can be used by in-house counsel to develop, revise, and implement a company's employee and third-party-related policies, see In-House Company Policies Resource Kit. For a full listing of key content covering leaves for employees, see Leaves for Employees Resource Kit. For a full listing of key content covering employee handbook considerations, see Employee Handbook Resource Kit. For more information on family and medical leave, see Leave Law (MA) — Family and Medical Leave and Flexible Leave, FMLA Leave: Guidance for Employers and Employees — FMLA Leave: Employer Coverage, Employee Eligibility, and Qualifying Bases, FMLA Leave: Guidance for Employers and Employees — FMLA Employer Rights and Obligations, and FMLA Leave: Guidance for Employers and Employees — FMLA Employee Notice Requirements and Medical Certification Obligations. For more information on sick leave in Massachusetts, see Leave Law (MA) — Sick Leave.