WASHINGTON – 2026 PAID FAMILY & MEDICAL LEAVE PREMIUMS TO INCREASE
Effective January 1, 2026, employers and employees will see an increase in the withholding rates for Paid Leave. The premium rate will increase to 1.13%, up from 0.92% in 2025. Employers will be responsible for 28.57% of the total premium with employees responsible for the remaining. As a reminder, businesses with fewer than 50 employees for the 2026 calendar year are not required to pay the employer portion, though they remain responsible for the collection of the employee premium.
WISCONSIN – UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ADVISORY COUNCIL DRAFTS LEGISLATIVE CHANGES TO UI PROGRAM
The Wisconsin Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council (UIAC), with representatives from both labor (employee) and management (employer), advises the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, providing insight on the administration of UI law, pending UI legislation, and recommends changes to UI law. Earlier this year, the council backed a bill that included several recommended changes to the unemployment program.
The draft bill creates a benefit offset for those receiving unemployment benefits and Social Security Disability payments, would disqualify individuals from receiving benefits if they failed to show up for an interview, adds work search audit requirements for the DWD, and adds new applicant identity verification requirements.
It also includes a one time increase in the maximum weekly benefit amount (WBA), raising the maximum rate to $395, up from its current $370. This contradicts a DWD recommendation which would increase the maximum WBA to $497, then require indexing of the WBA to the consumer price index the following year.
Despite support from both its labor and management members, many aspects of the draft legislation are under fire by worker advocates. Previous and similar iterations of the bill have been vetoed by Governor Tony Evers, including his recent veto of several similar unemployment related bills.
While the draft has not yet been introduced in the legislature, it may be as soon as next week.
