Millett responds to Department of Labor finalizing paid leave rules

AUGUSTA — On Monday, the Maine Department of Labor announced that it had finalized rules to implement Maine’s groundbreaking earned paid time off law, which will take effect January 2021. 

Sen. Rebecca Millet, D-Cape Elizabeth, who sponsored the law, issued the following statement:

“It’s clear now more than ever that earned paid time off is absolutely vital for Maine’s workers, businesses and overall economy. We can’t control what emergencies we face, but not having to worry about losing a paycheck to deal with those emergencies is a balm all hardworking people deserve. I’m eager for this law to go into effect, as I’m sure so many workers are. I’m happy to see the Department of Labor issues these rules, which will help make implementation a smooth process for everyone. I’m proud that Maine is once again leading the way, and I’m hopeful other states will follow our good example in protecting their own workers.”

In 2019, Sen. Millett sponsored LD 369, “An Act To Support Healthy Workplaces and Healthy Families by Providing Earned Paid Sick Leave to Certain Employees,” which created a first-in-the-nation statewide earned paid time off law. The bill received unanimous support in the Senate and was signed into law by Gov. Janet Mill in May 2019.