MA Paid Family & Medical Leave Law with Amanda Hemm & Sarah Douglas

Recorded Wednesday, March 3, 2021.  Today we spoke with two special guests about the new Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law (abbreviated PFML) and how to best prepare for parental leave after the birth of your baby!  Our guests are Amanda Hemm and Sarah Douglas from Soutiens.

QUESTIONS we asked Amanda and Sarah:

1. While this law does offer many different types of family and medical leave benefits, today we are going to specifically be talking about the part of the law that provides paid leave for parents to bond with a child during the first 12 months after a child’s birth, adoption or foster care placement. Can you tell our listeners a bit more about what this new law provides? 
2. Are there any eligibility exceptions to this law? 
3. Speaking of FMLA, are there any key differences between these two laws?
4. Figuring out a financial plan for your parental leave is only one important part of preparing for life after baby. Your company website says, “At Soutiens, we are on a mission to help companies attract, retain, and support confident working parents. We specialize in developing comprehensive programming to help working parents who are juggling the priorities of career and parenthood.” Can you briefly tell us about the personal experiences that inspired your business?
5. In the past you both have spoken about how you want to help new parents plan their leave time “with intention:” What do you mean by that? 
6. What are three most important things that new parents should think about during their parental leave if they want to return to work with more confidence and less stress?

To read details about the new law, see https://www.mass.gov 

COVID-19 Resources for Working Parents
https://www.soutiens.us/covid-19-resources

To go to their main website:  https://www.soutiens.us/