Compensation and Benefits: The Family and Medical Leave Act

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

The FMLA came into effect on 5th August, 1993. The Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is responsible for its administration. The law covers all employees in the state, including those in the private sector and a majority of those in the congressional and federal sectors. The law entitles "eligible employees of covered employers to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year," in order to attend to specified medical and family issues (AFSCME, 2013). This could extend to 26 weeks, over the same period, in cases that involve serious illness or injury. The decision as to when the one-year period should actually begin is dependent on the employer and the policy of the organization. In the past, the FMLA has been amended a number of times...
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