Paid Family and Medical Leave Around New England: 2025 Updates
The Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) landscape has become increasingly complex as states propose a variety of paid leave laws across the country, even though there were no new mandatory programs enacted in 2024. Multiple states are, however, working to finalize regulations and establish their PFML programs, beginning to collect contributions in 2025, and preparing to pay benefits in 2026. In addition, while various federal programs have been proposed with the goal of aligning practices across states, there has been little movement; and we expect, with the new administration, the stalemate will continue.
Outside of New England, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington, and the District of Columbia have mandatory paid family and/or medical leave laws in place. Employers should be aware of all paid leave laws for the jurisdictions in which they have employees working and ensure they comply with any and all applicable regulations.
In 2025, employee benefits are in the front row for both leadership and workforce interests. It begs the question: What’s the view from this new seat, and why has this happened? NEEBC hopes the following answers the question.
In today’s rapidly evolving work environment, the concept of employee wellbeing has grown far beyond traditional health benefits. Companies are increasingly focusing on "whole person wellbeing," which takes into account not only physical health but also mental health, financial wellbeing, work-life balance, social connections, and career development. Findings from WTW's 2024 surveys on employer healthcare practices, wellbeing programs, and employee attitudes toward benefits provide meaningful insights into how organizations are reshaping their approach to employee health and wellness. This blog touches on some of the components of whole person wellbeing and how companies are adapting to meet the needs of tomorrow’s workforce.
Pay equity