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

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal employment law that protects employees in Washington from being put at a disadvantage in the workplace due to illness, disability, and caregiving needs. This law applies to all employers in the state of Washington who have at least 50 employees. Under the FMLA, eligible employees can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in any 12-month period to care for a family member with a serious health condition, bond with a newborn child, or recover from their own serious health condition. FMLA also guarantees that eligible employees can return to the same or an equivalent job position and will not have to worry about any form of employment discrimination or retaliation. Additionally, the law also requires employers to continue providing health insurance coverage while an employee is on leave, as long as the employee continues to pay any assigned premiums. The law also provides additional protections to certain public and military personnel. For example, in Washington, public employees can use accrued paid leave for up to 12 weeks of FMLA leave instead of unpaid leave. Furthermore, for military personnel, the law provides an extra 26 weeks of leave to care for a covered service member with a serious injury or illness.

Related FAQs

How do courts determine whether an employer has violated employment discrimination law?
How is a protected class identified under employment discrimination law?
Are employers allowed to discriminate against employees based on their race?
Are employers allowed to require job applicants to complete a questionnaire?
Are employers required to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities?
Are employers allowed to ask about an applicant’s national origin during the hiring process?
Are employers allowed to terminate employees for performance related issues?
What types of evidence can be used in an employment discrimination case?
Can an employer be liable for discrimination even if it did not intend to discriminate?
Can employees sue employers for failing to follow employment discrimination law?

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

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts