FMLA Overview

FMLA requires covered employers to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid job protected leave to "eligible employees for certain family and medical reasons". The 12 work weeks can be either continuous or intermittent.

Eligibility

Employees are eligible if they have worked a period of 12 months and 1250 hours with their employer during the year preceding the start of the leave. Employees are entitled up to twelve (12) weeks of unpaid job protected leave, which runs concurrent with vacation time, sick leave, short term and long term disability, and worker's compensation.

Reasons to use FMLA

• Birth of the employee's child and care for that child.
• Placement of a child with the employee for adoption or foster care.
• To care for a spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition.
• For treatment of a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the functions of his or her job.

NEW for Military Family Leave

• Up to 12 weeks of leave because of  "any qualifying exigency".
• Up to 26 weeks of leave in a single 12 month period to care for a service member.

Additional information on the amendments and a version of Title I of the FMLA with the new statutory language incorporated is available on the Department of Labor - FMLA web site .

Family and Medical Leave - Department of Labor

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