PFML and FMLA

Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) - Effective July 1, 2026

Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) is a new paid, job‑protected leave benefit available to eligible employees of the University System of Maryland (USM), including those at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) beginning July 1, 2026.

This benefit allows you to take paid time away from work for eligible family, medical, or military related reasons, while protecting your job and your benefits. For comprehensive information, please review VII-7.51 USM Policy on Paid and Family Medical Leave for USM Employees (“the Policy”) and consult with the Human Resources – Employee and Labor Relations (HR-ELR) Leave Management Team at leave_and_accom@umaryland.edu.

Overview

1. PFML is paid. You are paid at your regular rate[1] and are not required to use your accrued leave.
2. Your job is protected, meaning that when PFML is approved, you generally have the right to return to the same or a comparable position with the same pay and benefits.
3. Parental leave is now provided through PFML. There is no longer a separate parental leave policy or entitlement.
4. There is no minimum length of service, hours worked, or FTE requirement for PFML eligibility.
5. Every situation is different. While the FAQs covers common questions, please contact the HR-ELR Leave Management Team at leave_and_accom@umaryland.edu or call 410-706-7302 with questions related to your individual circumstances.

PFML Policy

• Policy on PFML

PFML Form

PFML Form can be accessed from Forms. Search for "PFML" in the Filter by keyword field to access and download the form. 

PFML FAQs

FAQs related to PFML can be accessed from PFML FAQs.

Family Medical Leave

Family Medical Leave entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons with continuation of group health insurance coverage.

Eligible employees are entitled to 12 workweeks of leave in a 12-month period for:

• The birth of a child and to care for the newborn child within one year of birth;
• The placement with the employee of a child for adoption or foster care and to care for the newly placed child within one year of placement;
• To care for the employee’s spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition;
• A serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the essential functions of his or her job;
• A qualifying exigency arising out of the fact that the employee’s spouse, son, daughter, or parent is a covered military member on “covered active duty;” or
• Twenty-six workweeks of leave during a single 12-month period to care for a covered service member with a serious injury or illness if the eligible employee is the service member’s spouse, son, daughter, parent, or next of kin (military caregiver leave)

Eligibility

• Been employed within UMB or USM for at least one year.
• Worked at least 1,040 hours within the last year immediately preceding the date of requested leave.

Policies

• USM Policy on Family and Medical Leave for Exempt and Nonexempt Staff Employees 
• UMB Policy on Family and Medical Leave
• USM Policy on Paid Family and Medical Leave

[1] For School of Medicine Clinical Faculty, please see Question 7 for the definition of regular rate of pay as used throughout these FAQs.  Please also refer to Section XVIII of the Policy.