The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires covered employers to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to "eligible" employees for certain family and medical reasons. Employees are eligible if they have worked for a covered employer for at least one year, and for 1,250 hours over the previous 12 months, and if there are at least 50 employees within 75 miles.

• • to care for the employee's child after birth, or placement for adoption or foster care;
  • to care for the employee's spouse, son or daughter, or parent, who has a serious health condition;
  • for a serious health condition that make the employee unable to perform the employee's job.

Reasons for Taking Leave

Unpaid leave must be granted for any of the following reasons: At the employee's or employer's option, certain kinds of paid leave may be substituted for unpaid leave.

• • The employee ordinarily must provide 30 days advance notice when the leave is "foreseeable."
  • An employer may require medical certification to support a request for leave because of a serious health condition, and may require second or third opinions (at the employer's expense) and a fitness for duty report to return to work.

Advance Notice and Medical Certification

The employee may be required to provide advance leave notice and medical certification. Taking of leave may be denied if requirements are not met.

• • For the duration of FMLA leave, the employer must maintain the employee's health coverage under any "group health plan."
  • Upon return from FMLA leave, most employees must be restored to their original or equivalent positions with equivalent pay, benefits, and other employment terms.
  • The use of FMLA leave cannot result in the loss of any employment benefit that accrued prior to the start of an employee's leave.

Job Benefits and Protection

• • interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise or right provided under FMLA;
  • discharge or discriminate against any person for opposing any practice made unlawful by FMLA or for involvement in any proceeding under or relating to FMLA.

Unlawful Acts by Employers
FMLA makes it unlawful for any employer to:

• • The U.S. Department of Labor is authorized to investigate and resolve complaints of violations.
  • An eligible employee may bring a civil action against an employer for violations.

Enforcement

FMLA does not affect any Federal or State law prohibiting discrimination, or supersede any State or local law or collective bargaining agreement that provides greater family or medical leave rights.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration.