The Family Medical Leave Act
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), is a federal law that requires certain employers to provide 12 weeks of unpaid leave to employees while still protecting their job for their return. There are certain requirements that must be met by both employers and employees to qualify. However, if you do qualify, this can be an important legal tool for use if you need to leave work for any family matter that qualifies. Understanding the Family Medical Leave Act Many people think that the Family Medical Leave Act only allows a woman to take 12 weeks of leave after the birth of the child or the legal adoption of a child. However, the Family Medical Leave Act actually allows any employees under certain circumstances to take unpaid leave for a substantial period of time for family or medical reasons. Employer Requirements The Family Medical Leave Act applies to all companies that have 50 or more employees, as well as an