---
title: "Massachusetts PFML: Are You Paying the Right Share? | Baron Payroll"
description: "Massachusetts has one of the most comprehensive Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) programs in the country. Since 2019, contributions have been required from both employers and employees — but here’s the issue:

Many businesses are paying more than they need to.

That’s usually because payroll isn’t set up correctly, or the employer was never told how the split is supposed to work."
---

[Learning Center - Blog | Baron Payroll ](https://www.baronpayroll.com/blog)

# [Massachusetts PFML: Are You Paying the Right Share? | Baron Payroll](https://www.baronpayroll.com/blog/massachusetts-pfml-are-you-paying-the-right-share-baron-payroll)

 Written by [Baron Payroll](https://www.baronpayroll.com/blog/author/baron-payroll) | Aug 18, 2025 12:46:04 PM

Massachusetts has one of the most comprehensive **Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)** programs in the country. Since 2019, contributions have been required from both employers and employees — but here’s the issue:

**Many businesses are paying more than they need to.**

That’s usually because payroll isn’t set up correctly, or the employer was never told how the split is supposed to work.

## **What PFML Covers in Massachusetts**

Massachusetts employees can take:

- **Up to 12 weeks** of family leave (bonding with a child, caring for a loved one, or military exigency)
- **Up to 20 weeks** of medical leave for their own serious health condition
- **Up to 26 weeks** for caring for an injured military service member

That’s a potential **26 weeks of job-protected leave** — a big benefit that employees value, and one that state law requires.

## **Who Pays for PFML in Massachusetts?**

The PFML program is funded by a payroll contribution of **0.88% of eligible wages**, capped at the Social Security wage base. Here’s how it’s split:

- **Employees**: Always pay a portion (through automatic payroll deductions)
- **Employers with 25 or more covered employees**: Required to pay part of the medical leave contribution
- **Employers with fewer than 25 employees**: Exempt from the employer share, but must still withhold and remit the employee portion

This means the exact cost depends on **your headcount** and **how your payroll system is configured**.

## **Where Employers Go Wrong**

We’ve seen mistakes like:

- Employers covering the **entire 0.88%**, even though employees are supposed to pay their share
- Payroll companies that **don’t adjust the contribution based on company size**
- Reports that lump PFML into other taxes, leaving no visibility on what’s really being deducted

The result? Employers are left paying thousands more than they legally owe.

## **Why Compliance Matters in Massachusetts**

Massachusetts enforces PFML strictly, and errors can lead to:

- Back payments and penalties if contributions weren’t withheld properly
- Benefit issues for employees if contributions aren’t reported
- Cash flow problems for employers covering costs they don’t need to

## **How Baron Payroll Helps**

We make sure you’re never paying more than you should. With Baron Payroll:

- Contributions are set up **accurately from day one**
- Employee and employer portions are **calculated automatically**
- Every deduction appears as a **clear line item** on pay stubs
- We keep you informed about **annual rate changes** and compliance updates

The bottom line: You’ll know exactly what you’re paying — and what your employees are contributing.

## **Check Your Setup Today**

If your payroll company hasn’t explained how Massachusetts PFML is funded, you might be paying for their mistake.

👉 [Use our instant price calculator](https://www.baronpayroll.com/instant-price?hsLang=en) — no sales call required.

Or visit [https://www.baronpayroll.com/itin-service](https://www.baronpayroll.com/itin-service?hsLang=en) to learn more.

If you found this article helpful, here are some others you might like:

- [How Much Do Payroll Services Cost?](https://www.baronpayroll.com/blog/how-much-do-payroll-services-cost?hsLang=en)
- [1099 vs W2 Employee - An Honest Cost Comparison for Business Owners](https://www.baronpayroll.com/blog/1099-vs-w2-employee?hsLang=en)
- [Why are my W2 Wages Lower Than my Salary?](https://www.baronpayroll.com/blog/why-are-my-w2-wages-lower-than-my-salary?hsLang=en)
- [How to Choose the Best Payroll Company for Your Small Business](https://www.baronpayroll.com/blog/how-to-choose-the-best-payroll-company-for-your-business?hsLang=en)
- [The Pros and Cons of Paying Employees with Payroll Paycards](https://www.baronpayroll.com/blog/the-pros-and-cons-of-paying-employees-with-payroll-paycards?hsLang=en)

[View full post](https://www.baronpayroll.com/blog/massachusetts-pfml-are-you-paying-the-right-share-baron-payroll)

```json
{
  "@context" : "http://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Baron Payroll"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2025-08-18T12:46:04.082Z",
  "datePublished" : "2025-08-18T12:46:04Z",
  "headline" : "Massachusetts PFML: Are You Paying the Right Share?",
  "image" : {
    "@type" : "ImageObject",
    "height" : 3000,
    "url" : "https://5638311.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/5638311/AdobeStock_378590220%20%281%29.jpeg",
    "width" : 5000
  },
  "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://www.baronpayroll.com/blog/massachusetts-pfml-are-you-paying-the-right-share-baron-payroll",
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "height" : 60,
      "url" : "/hs/hsstatic/content_shared_assets/static-1.4092/img/default-amp-logo.png",
      "width" : 60
    },
    "name" : "Blog"
  }
}
```