Paid Leave Bill Introduced – A Costly, Burdensome Mandate for Small Business

May 19, 2023

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Paid Leave Bill Introduced – A Costly, Burdensome Mandate for Small Business

A newly introduced paid leave bill, LD 1964, would create the most sweeping work-related entitlement program in the history of Maine, applicable to all employers regardless of size. This bill covers all employees, full-time and part-time, and imposes a new tax on wages and salaries that could total over $400 million a year. LD 1964 proposes:

New overall payroll tax of 0.7% to 1.0% on wages and salaries (up to Social Security tax cap) shared equally by employees and employers;
Employers with 15 or more workers have to pay at least 50% of the tax (smaller employers would be exempt from the employer share);
Allowing self-employed people to voluntarily participate and pay 50% of the tax;
Allowing employees and self-employed people to take 12 weeks of leave annually;
Allowing leave to be taken in increments as small as 8 hours; and,
Uses consisting of family and medical leave, safe leave, and “exigency” leave for family members of those with active military duty status.

Nearly every employer in Maine will face new burdens and significant new costs. ACT NOW and tell your lawmakers in Augusta and Governor Janet Mills how a long-term paid leave mandate will impact your business, before it’s too late!