Am I eligible for FMLA leave in Massachusetts?

You generally need to have worked for your employer for at least 12 months and 1,250 hours in the past year, and your employer needs to have 50 or more employees within 75 miles. Massachusetts PFML has broader eligibility and covers most employees regardless of employer size.

Is Massachusetts PFML paid?

Yes. Unlike FMLA, which is unpaid, PFML provides a portion of your average weekly wage during your leave, funded through payroll contributions and administered by the state.

Can my employer fire me for taking FMLA or PFML leave?

No. Both laws protect your job while you are on qualifying leave and generally require your employer to restore you to the same or an equivalent position afterward. Retaliation for taking protected leave is illegal.

Can I use FMLA and PFML at the same time?

In most cases, yes. The two run concurrently for the same qualifying reason, so your 12 weeks of federal FMLA protection and your Massachusetts PFML benefits typically overlap rather than stack on top of each other.

PFML & FMLA

Worcester PFML & FMLA Attorneys
Serving Worcester, Middlesex and Hampden Counties

Taking time off to care for a new child, a seriously ill family member, or your own health can put your job and your paycheck at risk if your employer does not follow the law. Rudolf, Griffis, Ruggieri & Murray helps employees understand and enforce their rights under both the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave program (PFML).

Whether your employer denied a leave request you were entitled to, retaliated against you for taking leave, or failed to restore you to your job afterward, we work to hold them accountable.

Types Of Leave Claims We Handle

Denial of FMLA leave you were legally entitled to take.
Denial of Massachusetts PFML benefits or wrongful denial of your application.
Retaliation, demotion, or termination for requesting or taking protected leave.
Failure to restore you to your same or an equivalent position after leave.
Disputes over eligibility, leave calculations, or how FMLA and PFML interact with employer-provided leave policies.

Understanding FMLA and PFML

FMLA is a federal law that provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for your own serious health condition, the birth or adoption of a child, or to care for a spouse, child, or parent with a serious health condition. It applies to employers with 50 or more employees within 75 miles, and you generally need at least 12 months of employment and 1,250 hours worked in the past year to qualify.

Massachusetts PFML is a state program that provides paid leave, funded through payroll contributions and administered by the Department of Family and Medical Leave. It offers up to 12 weeks of paid family leave, up to 20 weeks of paid medical leave, and up to 26 weeks combined in certain military caregiver situations, and it applies to nearly all Massachusetts employers regardless of size. FMLA and PFML often overlap, and employees can generally use both at the same time for the same qualifying reason.

Our Services

PFML & FMLA

Worcester PFML & FMLA Attorneys Serving Worcester, Middlesex and Hampden Counties