Skip to main content

The Family and Medical Leave Act – Overview and Common Questions

Male caretaker holding child's hand in a hospital bed

The Family and Medical Leave Act is a federal law enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor that allows eligible employees to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons and requires employers to maintain employees’ health benefits during leave. Under this law, eligible employees may take leave for their own or family members’ serious health conditions, to bond with newborns or newly adopted children or for certain military family reasons.

For full details on FMLA, check out our HR Compliance Overview.

Below are answers to some common questions about FMLA.

What employers are covered under FMLA?

  • private-sector employers with 50 or more employees in at least 20 weeks of the current or preceding year;
  • public agencies, including state, local and federal employers; and
  • local education agencies, including elementary and secondary schools (public and private).

What employees are eligible employees for FMLA?

  • work for a covered employer;
  • have worked for the employer for at least 12 months (does not need to be consecutive);
  • have at least 1,250 hours of service for the employer during the 12-month period immediately preceding the leave; and
  • work within 75 miles of a location where the employer has 50 or more employees.

What are the qualifying reasons for 12 workweeks of FMLA leave?

  • birth and care of an employee’s child;
  • placement of a child with the employee for adoption or foster care;
  • care for an employee’s spouse, child or parent who has a serious health condition;
  • an employee’s own serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform any one of the essential functions of the employee’s position; or
  • any qualifying exigency arising out of the fact that a family member (spouse, child or parent of the employee) is a covered military member on covered active duty or has been notified of an impending call or order to covered active duty in the Armed Forces.

In addition, eligible employees may take 26 workweeks of leave in a single 12-month period to care for a spouse, child, parent or next of kin who is a covered service member with a serious injury or illness.

Have additional questions? We have the answers. Check out our full overview of FMLA: Common Questions.

For more information about employee benefits, our services and products, contact HANYS Benefit Services online or call 800.388.1963.

These Compliance Overviews are not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as legal advice. Readers should contact legal counsel for legal advice. © 2021 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.

Popular posts from this blog

Employee Benefits Offerings: What Perks Can You Add?

Employee benefits can play a crucial role in attracting and retaining top talent. Beyond compensation and bonuses, offering a variety of perks can significantly enhance employee satisfaction and productivity. But what should you include in your employee benefits offerings?   What are employee benefits?   Employee benefits encompass compensation, bonuses and various perks outside an employee's wage. By offering flexible employee benefits, you can improve employee productivity and loyalty while attracting and retaining talented candidates.   Personalized benefits examples   The type of benefits offered can vary by industry. We've compiled some of the most popular options to help you explore possible employee benefits strategies .  1. Social opportunities   Employee perks don't always have to be tied to a benefits package. Sometimes, the best way to engage your employees can be through social opportunities. Group activities can help im...

What is Risk Management? 4 Key Topics to Know

Understanding risk management in retirement programs  Managing a retirement program is complex, with multiple layers of risk. For organizations and their leadership, understanding and mitigating these risks is crucial to ensuring the long-term success and reliability of these programs.   It often leaves human resource professionals, employers and program administrators questioning, "What is risk management, and how can we excel at it?"  This blog post explores the various aspects of risk management in retirement program administration and provides actionable insights to help organizations better manage these risks.  The importance of risk management  Retirement programs are designed to benefit participants and beneficiaries, but they come with their own set of risks. These risks can be broadly categorized into four main topics:  Fees  Administration  Investments  Cybersecurity  Each of these topics requires meticulous attention and ...

What is HR vendor management? Overview with scenarios

Vendor management can be a litigious environment where efficiency, transparency and risk mitigation are paramount. With the right advisor in your organization’s corner, you’ll feel more confident navigating vendors and managing their services, ensuring streamlined processes and strategic alignment.   In this blog post, we'll cover the basics: What vendor management in HR entails, why it's important, how it can transform businesses and some scenarios in a few business types. Level up your knowledge and find the right partners to thrive.  Understanding vendor management in HR  Vendor management in HR involves the systematic management of third-party suppliers who provide goods and services essential to HR operations. This includes managing contracts, ensuring compliance with service level agreements and optimizing vendor performance to align with a company's long-term business goals.  A robust vendor management strategy can provide organizations with a structured ...