Compliance Stuff

At a Glance LD 1587 greatly expands the Maine Depart of Labor’s investigation and enforcement authority over state employment, wage and hour, and unemployment compensation laws. The law also imposes new administrative obligations when employee wages or damages are at issue and creates a mandatory posting and employee notification requirement. Employers in Maine will soon face enhanced penalties for any violation of state employment laws under a recently enacted law granting the Pine Tree State’s Department of Labor broad enforcement powers.  LD 1587  – An Act to Clarify the Bureau of Labor Standards’ Investigatory and Enforcement Procedures – significantly expands and formalizes the Maine Department of Labor’s authority to investigate, enforce, and collect penalties for violations of state employment, wage and hour, and unemployment compensation laws. The law, which takes effect on July 14, 2026, also introduces a new compliance requirement: Employers must post notices of any ...

  The Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) just announced that it has certified 12 fully insured, private policies providing paid family and medical leave (PFML) coverage that employers may use to meet their obligations under the state’s new PFML law. Employers that wish to use a private plan for this purpose must apply for (and ultimately obtain) approval from the MDOL, and may submit such applications starting April 1 . We’ll give you some quick background and explain everything you need to know about your options for PFML private plan substitutions. Quick Background on Maine’s PFML Program Governor Janet Mills signed a Maine budget bill into law last year that included the  creation of a statewide PFML program  that will, starting in May 2026, provide eligible workers up to 12 weeks of paid time off for qualifying family, medical, safe, or military leave. PFML benefits are financed by payroll “premiums” – the employer contribution mandate kicked in on January 1, requiring ...