The Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development released a model of the notice that employers will be required to provide to their existing employees by May 31, 2019.  The Paid Family and Medical Leave benefit was created by the poorly-named Grand Bargain that Governor Charlie Baker signed into law last June. Although employers are not required to use the state model, they must provide a notice to all employees that includes all the information contained therein and must also display a state poster further explaining the benefit to employees. Further, beginning July 1^st of this year, employers must begin paying into a state trust fund one-half of a payroll contribution of 0.63% of an employee’s wages to fund the benefit. The state will determine eligibility in consultation with the employee while the employer will have little to no say on eligibility. If approved for PFML, workers will be eligible for Paid Family and Medical Leave up to 12 weeks for paid family leave (new baby or adoption), up to 20 weeks for medical leave annually, and up to 26 weeks paid family leave if they are caring for a family member who is an eligible servicemember. The fund will be active for eligible employees to access effective July, 2021. Beyond the PFML, the “Grand Bargain” also raises the minimum wage to $15/hour by 2023 and eliminates the current requirement that employers pay time & a half for Sundays and holidays.