Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and who does it cover?

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that allows eligible employees to take unpaid leave for specific family and medical reasons, without the fear of losing their job. It covers employees who are dealing with certain medical issues affecting them or their family members. However, it's not applicable for all illnesses and not all employees are eligible. FMLA is particularly beneficial for families with a new child, either through birth, adoption, or foster care. To be eligible for FMLA, an employee must have worked for at least one year and completed 1,250 or more hours during that year. They must also live within a 75-mile radius of their workplace. FMLA applies to all public agencies, including schools and government entities at all levels. For private entities, it applies to businesses with 50 or more employees, offering a minimum of 20 unpaid work weeks throughout the year. FMLA covers specific family members such as spouses, children, and parents. It does not cover in-laws, grandparents, siblings, and domestic partners. The leave can be used for various activities like setting up child care, getting counseling, serving military duty, or spending time with a loved one who is going to be deployed.