Delaware Paid Family and Medical Leave
Employee Notice of Rights Delaware Paid Family and Medical Leave (DE PFML) benefits are available for employees in Delaware and provides paid leave and job protection for various leave reasons.
Am I eligible to take paid leave? Beginning January 1, 2026, you will be eligible to take DE PFML under your employer’s private plan insured by MetLife if you: • Worked for your employer for at least 12 months; • Have at least 1,250 hours of service with your employer during the 12 months before your leave (“hours of service” are hours actually worked and does notinclude time off for vacation, illness, or any other leave); • Work in Delaware for at least 60% of those 1,250 hours or have been designated as a Delaware worker for this benefit. What type(s) of leave are included under my employer’s MetLife DE PFML policy? Paid Parental Leave Paid Family Leave Paid Medical Leave How do I request paid leave after January 1, 2026? Generally, to request leave you must: • Follow your employer’s normal policies for requesting leave; • Give notice to your employer at least 30 days before your need for leave; or • If providing advanced notice is not possible, notify your employer as soon aspossible. How do I apply for DE PFML benefits? Beginning January 1, 2026, when benefits become payable under the Healthy Delaware Families Act, you may file a claim with MetLife by contacting Human Resources at 302-655-6171 ext. 2191 Because your paid leave coverage is through an approved MetLife policy, you must provide enough information in your claim so that MetLife can determine whether your requested leave qualifies. You may also be required to provide documentation verifying a qualifying exigency or your familial relationship for family caregiving, qualifying exigency, or parental leave.
What is paid leave under the Healthy Delaware Families Act? The Healthy Delaware Families Act (Act) is a state law that provides covered individuals with wage replacement and job-protection during leave for qualifying family and medical reasons. The Act works in conjunction with the federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which allows employees to take unpaid , job-protected leave with continued medical benefits. Beginning January 1, 2026 , Delaware employees can take paid job-protected leave . The Delaware Department of Labor, Division of Paid Leave enforces the provision of the Act. Under the Act and depending on your employer’s size, employees may be eligible to take: • up to 12 workweeks of paid leave in a 12-month period for the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child • up to 6 workweeks of paid leave in a 24-month period: o for an employee’s own serious mental or physical health condition that prevents the employee from working; o to care for a spouse, child, or parent with a serious mental or physical health condition; and o for qualifying reasons relating to the overseas deployment of a spouse, child, or parent who is a military servicemember. Employees cannot take more than 12 weeks of leave in a 12-month period. Employees have the right to use this leave in one block of time, or when medically necessary or otherwise permitted, employees may take leave intermittently in separate blocks of time or on a reduced schedule by working fewer hours each day or week. Leave under the Act is paid. Employees may be entitled to receive 80% of their average weekly wage while on approved leave, up to $900 per week. An employee’s average weekly wage consists of all income received from an employer including base salary, commissions, tips, and bonuses.
Where can I find more information? Visit MetLife.com/PFML to learn more about the DE PFML program or visit the state’s website de.gov/paidleave. If you believe your rights under the Healthy Delaware Families Act have been violated, you may file a complaint with the Delaware Department of Labor, Division of Paid Leave, or file a private lawsuit against your employer in court.
How is the Healthy Delaware Family Act paid leave plan funded? MetLife’s DE PFML coverage will begin January 1, 2026, when benefits become payable under the Healthy Delaware Family Act. An employer may collect payroll deductions up to the state maximum that will begin when this coverage begins in 2026. Advance notice of the 2026 payroll deduction will be sent fall of 2025. Since your employer received approval for MetLife’s private plan, you will not incur a payroll deduction in 2025. The Act does not affect rights from any federal or state law prohibiting discrimination or supersede any state local law or collective bargaining agreement providing greater family or medical leaves.
The information presented in this flyer is not legal advice and should not be relied upon or construed as legal advice. It is not permissible for MetLife or its employees or agents to give legal advice. The information in this flyer is for general informational purposes only and does not purport to be complete or to cover every situation. You must consult with your own legal advisors to determine how these laws will affect you. Like most insurance policies, insurance policies offered by MetLife and its affiliates contain certain exclusions, exceptions, waiting periods, reductions, limitations, and terms for keeping them in force. Please contact MetLife or your plan administrator for complete details.
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company | 200 Park Avenue | New York, NY 10166 © 2025 MetLife Services and Solutions, LLC
Page 1 Page 2Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator