Labor and Employment - Unpaid Parental Leave - Definition of Employer

Narrower unpaid parental leave coverage in Maryland

Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland’s unpaid parental leave law excludes employers covered by the federal Family and Medical Leave Act that calendar year. State coverage requires 15–49 Maryland employees each working day during at least 20 calendar workweeks in the current or previous year. The employer definition also includes people acting directly or indirectly for an employer regarding employees, and employers’ successors. Employees must request leave and, when leave starts, have at least 12 months with that employer and 1,250 hours worked during the previous 12 months. These employee eligibility rules remain in place. Employees are excluded if their worksite has fewer than 15 employees and their employer also has fewer than 15 within 75 miles. Independent contractors remain excluded.