We are proud to partner with Lincoln Financial on this educational video. Our other PFML carrier partners are: Principal, Guardian, Shelter Point, Mutual of Omaha and Unum.
Getting your refund
If you don’t choose to go with a private carrier for January 1, 2024, you will need to stay with the State for the next three years and you will lose your ability to get the refund for 2023.
There is a process for choosing a carrier then inputting that quote to the Colorado State portal for approval. Then apply for your 2023 refund. The deadline is the end of Oct. We are greatly encouraging businesses to apply quickly as possible so you don’t get caught in a bottleneck at the end of the deadline.
This is new for all of us, and we greatly encourage you to reach out to us if you have more questions. Each business has different challenges in underwriting, and our team is here to help guide you to the best outcome.
About Colorado Paid Family and Medical Leave (CO PFML)
The new CO PFML program takes effect January 1, 2024. Colorado Paid Family and Medical Leave (CO PFML) is a statewide program that allows covered employees to take paid time off to:
- Recover from the covered employee’s own serious health condition
- Bond with a child within the first twelve months following birth, adoption, or foster placement
- Care for a family member* with a serious health condition
- Assist a family member* called to active duty
- Address the immediate health, safety, and legal needs of employees or their family members* who are the victim of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault or abuse
Here’s everything you need to know:
Which employers and employees must have plans?
Employer: All private employers with one or more employees during 20 weeks of the year or who have paid wages of $1,500 or more during any quarter in the preceding calendar year. State and political subdivisions are included, but federal government is excluded.
Employee: Have earned at least $2,500 in wages during the base period. (Note: Base period is defined as the first four out of five completed calendar quarters preceding the first day of the employee’s benefit year.)
How is coverage provided?
- State-run
- Private plan: The state will allow employers to elect a private plan to meet coverage requirements. More details are forthcoming as to process and options for private plans.
What are the contribution rates?
- Program will be funded by employee and employer contributions.
- In 2023 and 2024, the initial premium rate is 0.90% of wages per employee up to the state maximum based on the Social Security wage cap. For 2025 and beyond, the state will determine the premium rate, but it cannot exceed 1.2% of wages per employee.
- The contribution sharing between employers and employees depends on employer size. For employers with 10 or more employees, the employee may be responsible for up to 50% of the premium, with the employer responsible for the remainder. For employers with fewer than 10 employees, the employee may be responsible for up to 50% of the premium, and the employer does not have to contribute an employer share.
What are the covered conditions?
- PML: Employee’s own serious health condition
- PFL: Bonding with newborn, adopted, or fostered child; caring for family member with a serious
health condition; assisting a family member called to active duty - Safe leave: Employee or their family member is the victim of domestic violence, stalking, or
sexual assault or abuse.
What are the weekly statutory benefits?
- Employees with an average weekly wage (AWW) of up to 50% of the state’s AWW will receive 90% of the employee’s AWW.
- Employees with an AWW exceeding 50% of the state’s AWW will receive 90% of their wages up to 50% of the state’s AWW, plus 50% of the employee’s remaining AWW.
- The maximum weekly benefit is $1,100 in 2024 and will be adjusted annually starting in 2025.
When do benefits begin?
On the first day of leave
Note: There is a zero-day waiting period for this program.
What is the maximum benefit period?
Overall family and medical leave duration: Twelve week benefit duration with an additional four weeks for pregnancy or childbirth complications
What is the contact information for the state?
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
633 17th Street, Suite 201
Denver, CO 80202-3660
Phone: 303-318-8000
For more information on CO PFML, fill out the “Contact Us” form on the right side of the page, and our team will be in touch!
If you’d like us to retrieve competitive quotes we will need the following information from your payroll. Owners are exempt. For all employees, we will require:
- Name
- DOB
- DOH
- Gender
- Salary/Income
- Occupation
- Work zip
- Company name
- Contact with phone number
Want to learn more about CO PFML? Register to watch our recent webinar in partnership with Lincoln Financial here.
*Covered family members include spouses, domestic partners, children (biological, adoptive, foster, stepchild, legal ward, child of domestic partner, and in loco parentis), parents (biological, adoptive, foster, stepparent, legal guardian, and a person who stood in loco parentis), parent-in-law, grandparents, grandchildren, sibling (biological, foster, adoptive, and step relationship), sibling-in-law, or other individual with whom the covered individual has a significant personal bond like a family relationship.