Male employees in Massachusetts will be entitled to parental leave beginning April 7, 2015.
A recent Massachusetts law extends 8 weeks of job-protected leave to both male and female employees for the birth or adoption of a child. The law also covers leave for the placement of a child pursuant to a court order.
Employees are eligible for the leave if they complete an initial period set by the employer, which must be less than 3 months. If there is no employer period, the law says that eligibility is contingent on three consecutive months as a full time employee. There is a limit placed on the amount of leave that parents working in the same company can use.
More and more states are adopting parental leave laws. Employers should review their leave policies to ensure compliance with applicable laws.