Advocates press committee to strengthen paid family and medical leave access, notice and data reporting

Advocates, community groups and legal-aid attorneys told the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development that Massachusetts’ Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program needs technical fixes to improve access and equity.

Molly Weston Williamson of the Center for American Progress and David McKenna of Greater Boston Legal Services urged passage of Senate Bill 13 51 and House Bill 2,110, which would require employers to provide PFML notice and an application packet at the time an employee requests leave, not only at hiring. McKenna said Greater Boston Legal Services will train constituent-service staff this summer to help residents navigate the program.

“Almost every employee in the state of Massachusetts pays into the Paid Family Medical Leave Trust Fund on every paycheck. But, not everyone is receiving the benefits when they need it,” McKenna said. He and other advocates cited language that restricts demographic reporting to approved applicants; the bill would require the Department of Family and Medical Leave to report more detailed disaggregated data, including denials, to identify disparities in access.

Speakers from community organizations and worker centers described frequent encounters with workers who contributed to PFML but did not know the program existed until months after they needed it. “I estimate I’ve helped over 500 workers access PFML benefits,” said Vilma (last name), an organizer with the Lynn Worker Center, who described being unaware of PFML when she got ill and later helping others apply.

Workers and organizers also urged correcting statutory definitions that unintentionally exclude covered contract workers from benefits, by removing outdated references to an Internal Revenue Service form. Advocates argued that technical fixes would extend benefits to workers classified as independent contractors when a majority of a business’ workforce are contractors.

Small-business owner Jessica Klein described PFML as affordable and important for employee retention, saying timely notice would make the program more effective for both employers and staff. Legal-aid organizations and worker centers urged the committee to support provisions that would require an annual public-education campaign by the Department and improved multilingual materials.

Ending: Testimony emphasized that modest statutory and administrative changes—notice at the time of leave request, improved reporting, and definition fixes—could materially increase program uptake among vulnerable and non-English-speaking workers. Advocates asked for a favorable report and offered to assist staff with technical drafting.