Colorado

Colorado Paid Family & Medical Leave Act (CO PFML)

The leave and benefits under the Colorado Paid Family & Medical Leave Insurance Act (CO PFML) began January 1, 2024. Leave and wage replacement benefits will be available to eligible CO workers for medical leave if they are unable to work due to a serious health condition (additional leave is available if the leave is needed because of complications due to pregnancy or childbirth).

Employees may also request family leave if they need time off work to care for a seriously ill family member, to bond with a new child, and to address a qualifying military exigency. Employees may also request safe leave if they or their family member is a victim of domestic violence, stalking, abuse, sexual assault, or other situations.

Coverage Options: Employers can participate in the state-run program, or they can self-insure or fully insure a private plan. MetLife will provide fully insured or self-insured coverage.

Job Protection: The CO PFML coverage is job protected once an employee works for an employer for at least 180 days. When applicable, leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) runs concurrently.

Benefits: Starting January 1, 2024, 12 weeks (extra 4 weeks for qualifying pregnancy or childbirth complications.) Maximum weekly benefit is $1,100/week in 2024 and will be adjusted annually thereafter.

Contributions: The employer may pay for the entire cost of providing CO PFML coverage, or the employer may share the cost with the employees eligible for coverage. The employee’s contribution cannot exceed 0.45% of the Federal Social Security Wage Cap of $168,600, $758.70 per employee per year

Key Dates:

• January 1, 2024: benefits started

As of April 8 , 2024