What are the laws governing the right to take leave due to illness or family obligations?

In Maine, the rights to take leave due to illness or family obligations are protected under both state and federal law. At the state level, the Maine Human Rights Act provides protection for employees who need to take leave in these situations. Specifically, this law prohibits employers from discriminating against employees for taking leave that is necessary to address a short-term or long-term disability, to care for family members with a disability or ill health, or to meet unexpected medical, dental, or optical needs. Additionally, this law also makes it illegal for employers to retaliate against employees who take leave for such reasons. At the federal level, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides employees with the right to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year for their own medical needs, to care for an ill family member, or for the birth of a child. This law applies to employers with over 50 employees and requires them to provide certain benefits to employees while they are out on leave. Additionally, this law also prohibits employers from discriminating or retaliating against an employee for taking the leave that is provided under the law. Overall, Maine state and federal law provides workers with the right to take leave due to illness or family obligations. These laws help to ensure that employees are able to take the necessary leave while also ensuring they are not discriminated against or retaliated against for doing so.

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