Legal Definitions - FMLA

FMLA

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a law that requires employers to give up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to eligible employees for certain family and medical reasons. This means that employees can take time off from work to care for a newborn or adopted child, to care for a seriously ill family member, or to recover from their own serious health condition without losing their job or health insurance.

To be eligible for FMLA, employees must have worked for their employer for at least 12 months and have worked at least 1,250 hours during the previous 12 months. The law only applies to employers with 50 or more employees within a 75-mile radius.

• An employee who has just given birth can take up to 12 weeks of FMLA leave to care for their newborn child.
• An employee whose spouse has been diagnosed with cancer can take FMLA leave to care for their spouse during their treatment.
• An employee who has been diagnosed with a serious medical condition can take FMLA leave to receive treatment and recover.

These examples illustrate how FMLA can be used to help employees balance their work and family responsibilities during times of need. By providing job protection and health insurance coverage during their leave, FMLA helps ensure that employees can take the time they need to care for themselves or their loved ones without worrying about losing their job or their health benefits.