Massachusetts Paid Family & Medical Leave Contributions (PFML) Bond
Overview
Massachusetts requires employers to make contributions to the Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) program, and some employers must post a surety bond to guarantee those contributions will be paid. This bond protects the Commonwealth and its workers by ensuring that PFML funds reach the state even if the employer defaults. It is a financial guarantee — not a policy or permit — and it must be active for your business to remain in compliance with Massachusetts PFML obligations.
Who Needs This Bond?
Your business has been flagged by the Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave as needing to post a bond before your PFML contributions are accepted or your compliance status is confirmed. Employers who meet certain contribution thresholds or have been identified as higher-risk payers may be required to secure this bond. If you have a workforce in Massachusetts and are subject to PFML withholding and remittance, this bond may be a condition of your ongoing compliance. It applies to both in-state and out-of-state employers with Massachusetts-based employees.
What is this Bond For?
This bond guarantees that you, as the employer, will remit all required Paid Family & Medical Leave contributions to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on time and in full. If you fail to make those payments, the state can make a claim against the bond to recover what is owed. Workers who depend on PFML benefits are protected because the fund remains whole even if an employer defaults. The bond is not a substitute for making contributions — it is a backstop that the state can call on if you do not.
When is it Required?
Before your PFML contribution account is brought into good standing or before the state lifts a compliance hold, this bond must already be in place. Massachusetts will not accept contributions under a conditional arrangement without confirmed bond coverage on file. Do not wait until your next remittance deadline — the bond needs to be purchased, executed, and delivered to the appropriate state contact before that date arrives. Acting now keeps your payroll operations and your employees' leave benefits from being disrupted.
Where Does it Apply?
This is a statewide Massachusetts requirement administered under the Commonwealth's Paid Family & Medical Leave program. It applies wherever your Massachusetts employees are located — no local permit or county-level filing is involved. The bond obligee is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the bond coverage must be in force across all Massachusetts operations for which you remit PFML contributions.
How to Buy Online
Click 'Buy This Bond Online' on this page and the secure surety portal will open in a new tab, walking you through the application in minutes. Enter your business details, review the bond terms, and complete your purchase without waiting on an agent callback. Once issued, your bond documents are available immediately for submission to the state.
Why Bond Titan?
Bond Titan is powered by The Southern Agency and gives you direct online access to a nationwide surety bond catalog — including hard-to-find payroll and leave contribution bonds like this one. There is no paperwork chase, no phone tag, and no delay between purchase and document delivery. You get the bond you need, on your schedule, from a licensed and experienced surety operation.