Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
A federal law giving eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave each year for family or medical reasons.
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal labor law that lets eligible employees take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period for specific family and medical reasons — including the birth or adoption of a child, caring for a spouse, child, or parent with a serious health condition, the employee's own serious health condition, or qualifying military family-leave needs. Eligible service members' families can take up to 26 weeks of military caregiver leave in a single 12-month period. FMLA covers private employers with 50 or more employees within a 75-mile radius, all public agencies, and all public and private elementary and secondary schools. To be eligible, an employee must have worked for the employer at least 12 months and at least 1,250 hours in the 12 months before leave starts. Employers must keep group health insurance and restore the employee to the same or equivalent job afterward. Many states have stronger paid leave programs that work alongside FMLA.
In real life
- A new mother takes 12 weeks of FMLA leave after the birth of her baby.
- A son takes intermittent FMLA leave to drive his father to chemotherapy.
- A military spouse uses FMLA qualifying-exigency leave during the partner's deployment.
Also known as
Frequently asked questions about Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Is FMLA paid?+
FMLA itself is unpaid, but employers can require use of paid leave at the same time. Some states have paid family leave laws.
Who is eligible?+
Employees who have worked at least 12 months and 1,250 hours for a covered employer.
Does my job stay protected?+
Yes — you must be returned to the same or an equivalent role at the end of leave.
Where do I file?+
Talk to HR. Disputes can be filed with the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division.
Source: dol.gov