As has been widely rumored, the Commonwealth has decided to delay the July 1 implementation of the Massachusetts paid family and medical leave law (“PFML”). A joint statement by Massachusetts Governor, Charlie Baker, Senate President, Karen Spilka, and House Speaker, Robert DeLeo explains:

[T]he deadline to begin employer contributions to the PFML program has been extended to October 1, 2019. This extension means that employers do not have to make their required employer contributions or deduct the employee portion of the contribution from employee wages by the prior July 1, 2019 deadline. Employers will now have three additional months to internally implement the program and educate employees of the corresponding payroll deductions. Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Legislature will adopt changes to the PFML law to clarify the program’s design with the intention that the program be successfully implemented this fall.