Can I take FMLA leave to care for a family member if the family member is not the employee's parent, spouse, or child?

Yes, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows employees to take up to 12 weeks of leave in a 12-month period to care for a “family member” with a “serious health condition.” Generally, this means an employee’s parent, spouse, or child. However, in Washington State, the definition of a family member under the FMLA is more broad. An employee is able to take FMLA leave to care for any blood relative, a person who the employee is with in a domestic partnership, or a person that has been like a family member to the employee for at least one year. Ultimately, it is up to the employer to decide whether or not an employee’s request for FMLA leave is valid under the law. Therefore, an employee may need to provide additional information regarding the nature of their relationship with the family member they are seeking to care for in order to be approved for FMLA leave.

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Can I take FMLA leave to care for a family member if the family member is not the employee's parent, spouse, or child?

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