Welcome to our weekly column in which a topic of interest, piece of news, relevant opinion, or general request for feedback is presented. We’ll offer the topic du jour and accompanying question, and you have the opportunity to respond with your thoughts.
Simply fill out the form below. A collection of each week’s responses will appear in the following week’s column. To view responses on our previous topics click here.
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This week’s Feedback Friday topic is:
Maryland Businesses & Employees Face New Tax
This week, we take a quick look at the newly-established Family and Medical Leave Insurance program in Maryland—a source of controversy between fiscal conservatives and social liberals.
The Washington Post briefly described the situation in a piece published recently:
“With the new year also comes the establishment of Maryland’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance program, which will likely operate similarly to the state’s unemployment insurance program, with a tax on workers and employers funding paid leave.
“Beginning in 2025, Maryland workers will be able to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave to care for a sick family member, a newborn, or a new adopted child, among other instances.
“Gov. Larry Hogan (R) vetoed the measure, but the Democratic-controlled legislature overrode him, making Maryland the tenth state to offer the job-protection benefit.
“Hogan warned in his veto message that the measure would hurt small businesses. Employers with 15 or more workers will have to pay into a fund and, similar to unemployment insurance, employees would also have to make a weekly contribution. But supporters invoked the plight of pandemic-era workers struggling to balance illness and jobs.”
It’s important to note that: (1) FMLI leave is in addition to the state’s existing sick and safe leave under the Healthy Working Families Act, effective since 2018; (2) Maryland Department of Labor will determine contribution rates by July 1 of this year; (3) employer and employee contributions will start October 1 of this year; (4) the law applies to all employers (including state and local governmental employers); and (5) employers with fewer than 15 employees need not contribute. Neither do covered employees with an hourly wage less than $15 per hour.
Simply put, do you support a new tax to pay for the Family and Medical Leave Insurance program? Do you feel this program is needed?
Please share your thoughts by filling out this form. Today’s responses—and all future Feedback Friday responses—will be published in our Monday newsletters after the weekend. AND, several responses from recent topics will appear in our upcoming print magazines!
