Family and Medical Leave Act


Definition of Family and Medical Leave Act

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a piece of federal legislation enacted in the United States which allows individuals up to 3 months of leave when a qualifying event takes place. The most common qualifying event is the birth or adoption of a child. Other qualifying events include caring for a spouse, parent, or child who has a serious health condition; the employee needing time off to deal with a personal serious health condition; and any qualifying issue that arises because the employee's spouse, child, or parent is active duty military.

The law requires that employers who meet certain size qualifications provide this leave to their employees. There are federal funds available to employees which represents some or all of the wages that they will be paid during leave.



Family and Medical Leave Act Explained

While the law requires a minimal payment to people on this leave, employers may decide to pay more than this. If they do, it is paid by the employer and not the government. For questions regarding FMLA, speak with the HR department of your hiring company.