Employees can take one of two sorts of absences when they are expecting a child: maternity leave or parental leave. Parental leave can be used by both parents to care for their kid, although maternity leave is normally taken by mothers before and after the birth of their child. Although these two leaves are distinct, they can be consumed together in certain circumstances.
The Massachusetts Parental Leave Act (MPLA) provides for both maternity and paternity leaves in Massachusetts. According to this law, businesses with six or more employees are required to give female workers who have been with the company for at least three months eight weeks of unpaid maternity leave. The law also grants fathers and mothers who have worked for the company for at least three months a maximum of eight weeks of unpaid parental leave.
The employee must fulfill specific requirements in order to take both parental leave and maternity leave at the same time. First, the employer needs to approve. The employee must also have earned paid leave that they can use to make up all or part of their absence from work. This could apply to paid time off for illness, holidays, or personal days. The employee can only take unpaid leave if they do not have any accrued paid leave.
Employees must provide their employers written notice of their intent to take parental leave in Massachusetts at least two weeks before the break actually begins. The notice must say that the employee plans to take parental leave and include the anticipated start and end dates of the break. In order to verify the need for the leave, employers could additionally request paperwork like a birth certificate or adoption papers.
As required by the MPLA, Massachusetts’ maternity leave is eight weeks long. However, some businesses might provide more time off or let workers use accrued vacation time to prolong their time off. If an employee is unable to work due to a pregnancy-related disability, they may also be eligible for short-term disability payments.
Employees normally aren’t able to work or make money while they’re on maternity leave. Freelance employment, creating a side business, taking paid surveys, or joining focus groups are a few methods to earn money while on vacation. The receipt of any money while on leave may affect a person’s eligibility for certain benefits or tax credits, it is crucial to know.
In conclusion, it is conceivable, under some circumstances, to take both maternity and paternity leave at the same time. Employers must permit it and employees must have earned paid leave to cover all or part of their absence. Employees must give written notice of their intent to request parental leave at least two weeks in advance in Massachusetts. In Massachusetts, maternity leaves last for eight weeks, and during that time, workers may be qualified for short-term disability payments. While working while on maternity leave is often not an option, there are a few options that should be carefully evaluated to ensure eligibility for benefits and tax credits.
Massachusetts’ Paid Family and Medical Leave (MA PFML) program is mandatory for all employees, and they cannot choose not to participate. The program, which offers paid leave for different family and medical reasons, including maternity and parental leave, is mandatory for all qualifying employees. Employers are in charge of deducting payments from employees’ paychecks to pay for the program.