Massachusetts Expands Parental Leave Coverage to Include Male Employees

Massachusetts employers with six or more workers will be required to provide up to eight weeks of parental leave to both male and female employees for the birth or adoption of a child beginning in April under legislation signed by former Gov. Deval Patrick (D) on his final full day in office Jan. 7.

The new law (S. 865), which takes effect April 7, 2015, will replace the current Massachusetts Maternity Leave Act (MLA), which gives only female employees eight weeks of job-protected maternity leave for the birth or adoption of a child.

The legislation was passed by the House ...