Family and Medical Leave
Maine Paid Family Medical Leave
BIW has a private plan. Please review the information below and apply to BIW’s leave administrator or reach out to BIW Benefits for more questions. View the State notice for program:
For the most updated information on Maine Paid Family Medical Leave, please visit the State’s website:
What is Maine PFML?
Maine’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) law provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave for family leave, medical leave, safe leave or leave related to a family member’s impending military deployment.
A copy of the actual laws and formal interpretations may be found online at http://www.maine.gov/paidleave or by calling 207- 623-7900 | TTY users call Maine Relay 711.
Who qualifies and what’s covered?
Starting May 1, 2026, workers who’ve earned enough wages for work in Maine can take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for:
- Safe Leave: Time to find safety from abuse or violence
- Medical Leave: For times when a serious health condition keeps you from working
- Parental Leave: Time to bond with a new child
- Family Care Leave: Time to care for a loved one with a serious health condition
- Military Family Leave: Time to prepare for a family member’s deployment
What is the earnings requirement to receive benefits?
You must have earned 6 times the State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) during the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the first day of your benefit year. To find out more about eligibility and benefit amounts, visit the State’s website: MDOL: PFML For Workers and their Families page
Is BIW administering the Paid FML through the State or through a private plan?
The company has set up a private plan to meet our Maine PFML obligations.
What are the employee contributions?
The law says that employers can deduct up to half of one percent (0.5%) of wages from each employee’s paycheck to pay for this coverage (up to the same limit in place for Social Security deductions). The deduction will be reported on your paystub. Please check with your benefits team with any questions about this deduction.
Can I choose if I want to use Federal FMLA or Maine PFML?
When you apply with BIW’s administrator, the administrator will confirm your eligibility under Federal FMLA , Maine FML, and/or Maine PFML. You cannot choose to apply for one benefit and not the other, if you are eligible. If you are covered by all three programs, you can’t choose to take 12 weeks of federal FMLA and then a separate 12 weeks of Maine PFML.
Will my available Maine PFML time be reduced if I take leave under other laws?
Yes, Maine PFML, the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and Maine FMLA will run at the same time when they all apply. They are not designed to be used separately. Any leave you take under Federal FMLA or Maine FMLA in the 12 months before your Maine PFML benefit starts will count against your available 12 weeks of Maine PFML.
For example: If you took 4 weeks of Federal FMLA or Maine FMLA in December of 2025, you would only have 8 weeks of PFML available in 2026 when your benefits start in May 2026.
When do I need to inform BIW of my request to take leave?
You need to give BIW reasonable notice if you know you’ll need to take leave:
- For example, if you know you’ll need leave for a scheduled surgery a few months from now, at least 30 days would be reasonable notice.
- If you know in advance that you’ll need leave, but not that far in advance, you should tell Sedgwick when you know.
- If you need leave for an emergency, you should tell Sedgwick as soon as possible.
When applying for PFML leave, you will need to submit a claim for benefits. Claims can be filed with BIW’s private plan administrator, Sedgwick. You can file a claim at any time online at mySedgwick.com/generaldynamics or call 1-800-416-1808 Monday–Friday from 8 a.m.–7 p.m. CST.
When can I submit my PFML application?
You can submit your application to Sedgwick as soon as you know about your need for leave. The latest you can submit your application is 90 days after the start of your leave. You can file a claim at any time online at mySedgwick.com/generaldynamics or call 1-800-416-1808 Monday–Friday from 8 a.m.–7 p.m. CST.
Is there a waiting period to receive benefits once my claim is approved?
There is a waiting period of seven calendar days if your leave is for your own medical condition. If your medical leave is approved, benefits won’t be payable for the first seven calendar days, beginning with your first day of leave. If you take leave for another reason, such as family leave or bonding, there’s no waiting period.
Can I use my paid time off (PTO/CTO) I have accrued while I am on PFML?
You can use some of your PTO to close the gap between your benefit amount and usual earnings, as long as the total weekly amount does not exceed 100% of weekly pay. Please contact the Benefits Department at [email protected] or 207-442-2527 to obtain the form required to use PTO while on Maine PFML.
More Information
More information on paid family medical leave
Need help with benefits? Click the link above to email the BIW Benefits Department or call 207-442-2527.
Apply online with Sedgwick or call 1-800-416-1808 Monday–Friday from 8 a.m.–7 p.m. CST.