The Maine State Chamber of Commerce has criticized a proposed regulation of the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program, which allow employees to give as little as 30 days’ notice before taking leave. The Chamber argues that the rule does not adhere to the law’s stipulation that the scheduling of leave should not impose unreasonable hardship on the employer. Small businesses, it suggests, would especially struggle to adjust to sudden employee absences. The ordered regulation also disregards employers’ ability to claim undue hardship if an employee notifies of leave 30 days prior. On the opposite side of the argument, the Maine People’s Alliance maintains that the 30-day notice rule is reasonable, emphasizing the importance of employee needs for paid leave. The Department of Labor confirmed that it is currently reviewing the submitted comments and should implement a final rule by Jan. 1 following the end of the public comment period. The technical rules adoption is crucial in ensuring the family leave benefit’s availability to Maine workers by 2026. One particular concern of the Chamber is the predicted impact on Maine’s restaurants, with the short notice potentially hindering operations during busy summer periods.

If you are in California and need more information about Paid Family and Medical Leave program, or you have more specific questions, check out www.eddcaller.com. They offer various resources on how to get a hold of Paid Family Leave representatives. They also provide comprehensive guidelines on various topics such as how to contact a live person at EDD California or get an update on your EDD payment status.