Maine Employment Laws

Prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, and familial status. Applies to all employers with 1 or more employees — broader than federal Title VII.

Maine’s minimum wage is $14.65/hour as of January 1, 2025, increasing to $15.10/hour on January 1, 2026. The tipped minimum wage is half the standard rate. The minimum wage is indexed to inflation (CPI).

Employers with more than 10 employees must provide 1 hour of earned paid leave for every 40 hours worked, up to 40 hours per year. Leave can be used for any reason. Effective January 1, 2021.

Starting in 2026, eligible workers can take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for family or medical reasons, including bonding with a new child, caring for a family member, or recovering from a serious health condition. Benefits are 90% of wages up to 50% of the state average weekly wage, then 67% above that.

Noncompete agreements are enforceable only to the extent they are reasonable and protect legitimate business interests (trade secrets, confidential information, goodwill). Employers cannot require noncompetes for employees earning at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. Employees must receive 3 business days’ notice before signing.

Employers cannot discharge, threaten, or discriminate against employees who report violations of law, refuse to carry out illegal directives, or participate in investigations.