May 1, 2026

Any employee who has worked at Bates for at least 120 days and has earned at least 6 times the State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW = $1,199.00) in the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before your leave begins. The Hartford, our Leave Absence Management Administrator, will determine your eligibility for you.

Yes, this benefit still applies to you and is for you should you ever need to be away from work for any qualifying reason.

Yes. This leave applies to both staff, faculty, and even student workers.

Employees who are currently on a leave and will be on it through May 1, 2026 will continue their leave through Bates and will not need to transfer their leave over to The Hartford. Benefits will continue to manage your leave until your return to work.

You may be eligible to apply for ME PFML, but your benefit may be reduced by leave time used before May 1, 2026.

Yes. To fund this new, comprehensive benefit, starting May 1, 2026, Bates College will begin a payroll withholding of 0.4% of employee compensation (or, four dollars – $4 – for every $1,000 of compensation). This contribution—which is lower than the state cap of 0.5%— in partnership with the college’s contribution, is to ensure the long-term sustainability of the plan.

All employees, regardless of benefits eligibility, will be subject to this withholding.

Stay informed! Benefits will be holding both in-person and virtual informational sessions in April that you can attend to learn more about how ME PFML will work with your upcoming leave. If you have any additional questions, please reach out to benefits@bates.edu.

Family member.  “Family member” means, with respect to a covered individual or spouse or domestic partner of a covered individual:  

A. Regardless of age, a child, including a child whose parentage has been determined under the Maine Parentage Act or any other biological child, adopted child, foster child or stepchild, or a child to whom the covered individual or spouse or domestic partner of the covered individual stands in loco parentis or a child the covered individual or spouse or domestic partner of the covered individual has under legal guardianship or any individual to whom the covered individual or spouse or domestic partner of the covered individual stood in any of these relationships when the individual was a minor child;   [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. AAA, §7 (NEW).]

B. A parent, including a legal parent, biological parent, adoptive parent, foster parent, stepparent, de facto parent or legal guardian or a person who stood in loco parentis when the covered individual or spouse or domestic partner of the covered individual was a minor child;   [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. AAA, §7 (NEW).]

C. A grandparent, including a legal grandparent, biological grandparent, adoptive grandparent, foster grandparent, stepgrandparent or de facto grandparent;   [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. AAA, §7 (NEW).]

D. A grandchild, including a legal grandchild, biological grandchild, adoptive grandchild, foster grandchild, stepgrandchild or de facto grandchild;   [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. AAA, §7 (NEW).]

E. A sibling, including a legal sibling, biological sibling, adoptive sibling, foster sibling, stepsibling or de facto sibling;   [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. AAA, §7 (NEW).]

F. A spouse or domestic partner of a covered individual; or   [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. AAA, §7 (NEW).]

G. As designated by the covered individual in accordance with rule, an individual with whom the covered individual has a significant personal bond that is or is like a family relationship, regardless of biological or legal relationship.