Frequently Asked Questions

How does the FMLA apply to public agencies, schools, and government entities?

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that applies to all public agencies, including schools and government entities at the local, state, and federal levels. These public agencies are required to comply with FMLA regulations, regardless of the number of employees they have. This means that employees of these agencies are entitled to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for certain medical and family reasons, without fear of losing their jobs. The FMLA is designed to help employees balance their work and family responsibilities by allowing them to take reasonable unpaid leave for specific family and medical reasons. These could include the birth or adoption of a child, to care for an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent) with a serious health condition, or to take medical leave when the employee is unable to work because of a serious health condition. However, not all employees are eligible for FMLA benefits. To be eligible, an employee must have worked for their employer for at least one year and must have worked at least 1,250 hours during the year prior to the start of the FMLA leave. The employee must also work at a location where the employer has at least 50 employees within 75 miles.