The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) offers employees up to 12 weeks of excused absence from their jobs each year. Employees may qualify for the FMLA leave when either they or certain family members suffer from a serious health condition.
Generally, FMLA leave can be used for:
- for the birth and care of the newborn child of an employee;
- for placement with the employee of a child for adoption or foster care;
- to care for an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent) with a serious health condition; or
- to take medical leave when the employee is unable to work because of a serious health condition.
The FMLA has many restrictions and may not apply to small employers with less than 50 employees.
