Among a number of 2024 bills making it to Governor Moore’s desk are several that provide additional protections for employees and/or require additional transparency from employers.
All those bills aim to improve working conditions for Maryland employees.
One bill, in particular, will address the devastating situation in which an employee loses a child. House Bill 0052 (HB0052)/Senate Bill 0109 (SB0109) provide bereavement leave for state employees upon the death of a child.
Whenever a family loses a child, from birth on, the ramifications are immense. Pressures on family relationships following the loss, and the stress of simply processing the loss and attempting to move forward are enormous. The legislature realizes that adding work stresses to that mix can be overwhelming.
Effective October 1, 2024, State employees who experience a stillbirth or the loss of an infant will be eligible to take up to 60 days of paid Parental Bereavement Leave in the first 60 days following the loss. State employees losing a child between the ages of 6 months and 27 years of age are eligible to take up to 10 days of paid Parental Bereavement Leave in the first 60 days following the loss.
For purposes of the soon-to-be law, “child” means adopted children, biological children, stepchildren, and legal wards.