March 14, 2024 – This year the Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program’s benefits became available to employees across Colorado.
Employees, freelance workers and even the self employed are eligible for up to twelve weeks of paid leave per year to bond with a new child (including adopted and fostered children), care for themselves or a family member’s health condition, make arrangements for an upcoming military deployment, or address safety needs following sexual assault or domestic violence. Employees must earn at least $2500 per year to be eligible to apply.
The costs for FAMLI are shared by the employer and the employee via payroll deductions. While most businesses have been doing the post tax payroll deductions for FAMLI since 2023, there are other considerations beyond payroll once you have an employee out on FAMLI leave.
Employers are responsible to continue employees’ health insurance while they are FAMLI. Employers who offer short-term long-term disability benefits may decide to require FAMLI benefits run concurrently with those short-term and long-term disability plans so long as the employer provides written notice to employees of the requirement.
Colorado’s FAMLI program runs concurrently with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) program’s 12 weeks of unpaid leave, so there is not double coverage.
