What is the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)?

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that was enacted in 1993 to provide job protection and time off for employees who needed to take time away from work for certain medical or family needs. This act applies to employers with fifty or more employees and provides up to twelve weeks of unpaid leave for qualified reasons. In California, the FMLA ensures that qualified employees are able to take the necessary time off from work to care for themselves or their families in the event of a medical emergency or other serious family matters. This protected leave may be taken all at once or intermittently as needed by the employee, and employees cannot be fired for taking leave under the FMLA. FMLA leave may be used for medical or health treatment for the employee or family members, pregnancy or childbirth, adoption or foster care, or other qualifying family or medical reasons. Leave under the FMLA may be taken without the fear of losing a job, but the employee may not be guaranteed the same job upon return. The FMLA is an important law in California to ensure that employees are protected when they have personal and family health or welfare needs that require time away from work. It is important to understand the FMLA so that employees can take advantage of the protections it offers and employers can ensure that they are compliant with the law.

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What is the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)?

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