The Family and Medical Leave Act

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a U.S. law that allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year for specific family and health reasons without losing their job. This includes time off to care for a newborn, adopt a child, care for a seriously ill family member, or manage personal health issues. Employees are entitled to return to their same or a similar job after their leave. To qualify, workers must meet certain criteria, including working for a covered employer and having a specific amount of service time with the employer.