Massachusetts does not have a general law providing family medical leave, but the General Laws of Massachusetts does include provisions for maternity and adoption leave, school visitation leave and leave for a child's medical and dental appointments, as well as activities for elder care as codified in Part I, Title XXI, Chapter 149.

CHAPTER 149. LABOR AND INDUSTRIES.

Chapter 149: Section 105D. Entitlement of female employees; rights and benefits.

A female employee who has completed the initial probationary period set by the terms of her employment or, if there is no such probationary period, has been employed by the same employer for at least three consecutive months as a full-time employee, who is absent from such employment for a period not exceeding eight weeks for the purpose of giving birth or for adopting a child under the age of eighteen or for adopting a child under the age of twenty-three if the child is mentally or physically disabled, said period to be hereinafter called maternity leave, and who shall give at least two weeks' notice to her employer of her anticipated date of departure and intention to return, shall be restored to her previous, or a similar, position with the same status, pay, length of service credit and seniority, wherever applicable, as of the date of her leave. Said maternity leave may be with or without pay at the discretion of the employer.

Such employer shall not be required to restore an employee on maternity leave to her previous or a similar position if other employees of equal length of service credit and status in the same or similar position have been laid off due to economic conditions or other changes in operating conditions affecting employment during the period of such maternity leave; provided, however, that such employee on maternity leave shall retain any preferential consideration for another position to which she may be entitled as of the date of her leave.

Such maternity leave shall not affect the employee's right to receive vacation time, sick leave, bonuses, advancement, seniority, length of service credit, benefits, plans or programs for which she was eligible at the date of her leave, and any other advantages or rights of her employment incident to her employment position; provided, however, that such maternity leave shall not be included, when applicable, in the computation of such benefits, rights, and advantages; and provided, further, that the employer need not provide for the cost of any benefits, plans, or programs during the period of maternity leave unless such employer so provides for all employees on leave of absence. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect any bargaining agreement or company policy which provides for greater or additional benefits than those required under this section.

A notice of this provision shall be posted in every establishment in which females are employed.

Chapter 149: Section 33E.

(a) An employee of the commonwealth or of a county, or of a city or town that accepts this section, may take a leave of absence of not more than 30 days in a calendar year to serve as an organ donor, without loss of or reduction in pay, without loss of leave to which he is otherwise entitled and without loss of credit for time or service.

(b) If the necessity for leave under this section is foreseeable, the employee shall provide the employer with not less than 7 days' notice before the leave is to begin. If the necessity for leave is not foreseeable, the employee shall provide such notice as is practicable.

(c) An employer may require that a request for leave under this section be supported by a certification issued at such time and in such manner as the attorney general may by regulation require.

(d) The attorney general shall enforce this section, and may obtain injunctive or declaratory relief for this purpose. Violation of this shall be subject to the second paragraph of section 150 and to section 180.

Chapter 149: Section 52D. Family and medical leave; enforcement.

(a) As used in this section, terms shall have the meanings assigned to them by the federal act, notwithstanding any contrary provision of section 1 of this chapter. In addition, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

"Elderly relative'', an individual of at least 60 years of age who is related by blood or marriage to the employee, including a parent.

"Federal act'', sections 101 to 105, inclusive, of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, 29 U.S.C. sections 2611 to 2615, inclusive, as it may be amended.

"School'', a public or private elementary or secondary school; a Head Start program assisted under the Head Start Act, 42 U.S.C. sections 9831 et seq.; and a children's day care facility licensed under chapter 28A.

(b) An eligible employee shall be entitled to a total of 24 hours of leave during any 12-month period, in addition to leave available under the federal act, to:

(1) participate in school activities directly related to the educational advancement of a son or daughter of the employee, such as parent-teacher conferences or interviewing for a new school;

(2) accompany the son or daughter of the employee to routine medical or dental appointments, such as check-ups or vaccinations; and

(3) accompany an elderly relative of the employee to routine medical or dental appointments or appointments for other professional services related to the elder's care, such as interviewing at nursing or group homes.

(c) Unless this section provides otherwise, the terms of the federal act shall apply to leave under this section. As provided in section 102(d)(2)(A) of the federal act, 29 U.S.C. section 2612(d)(2)(A), an eligible employee may elect, or an employer may require the employee, to substitute any of the accrued paid vacation leave, personal leave, or medical or sick leave of the employee for any of the leave provided under this section, but nothing in this section shall require an employer to provide paid sick leave or paid medical leave in any situation in which the employer would not normally provide any such paid leave. Leave under this section may be taken intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule.

(d) If the necessity for leave under this section is foreseeable, the employee shall provide the employer with not less than seven days' notice before the date the leave is to begin. If the necessity for leave is not foreseeable, the employee shall provide such notice as is practicable.

(e) An employer may require that a request for leave under this section be supported by a certification issued at such time and in such manner as the attorney general may by regulation require.

(f) The attorney general shall enforce this section, and may obtain injunctive or declaratory relief for this purpose. Violation of this section shall be subject to the second paragraph of section 150 and to section 180.

For the purposes of this section, an "employer'' shall be defined as in subsection 5 of section one of chapter one hundred and fifty-one B.