What types of family members are covered by the FMLA?

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that provides certain employees with up to 12 working weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave each year for certain family and medical reasons. Under the law, Texas employers with 50 or more employees must provide eligible employees with the right to take job-protected, unpaid leave for certain family and medical reasons. FMLA leave covers a variety of family members, including a spouse, child, or parent of the employee. This includes both biological and adoptive relationships, as well as foster children and stepchildren. In addition, it covers siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and in-laws. It also covers the legal guardianship of an employee’s child. Employees are entitled to take leave to care for these family members who have a serious health condition. In some cases, FMLA leave also covers employees’ "next of kin," such as a military spouse, domestic partner, or same-sex partner related by blood. This is so that employees can care for a family member or for any other person who may be considered a "blood relative" by law. In short, the FMLA provides employees with the right to take unpaid leave to care for a wide variety of family members, including biological, adoptive, and foster children; spouses; parents; siblings; and in-laws. It also covers those related by blood or legal guardianship, as well as same-sex partners.

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What types of family members are covered by the FMLA?

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