To mark the 33rd anniversary of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has released a fresh series of brief videos now available on its website.
The FMLA provides eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave each year for certain family and medical needs. Employees may receive up to 26 weeks in a single 12‑month period to care for a covered servicemember who is a family member.
It applies to private employers with 50+ employees, as well as public agencies and all public and private schools. Employees qualify if they’ve worked for a covered employer at least 12 months, logged 1,250 hours in the past year, and work at a location with at least 50 employees within 75 miles.
Covered reasons for FMLA leave include: the birth or placement of a child (adoption or foster care), caring for a spouse, child, or parent with a serious health condition, the employee’s own serious health condition, or certain needs arising from a family member’s covered active military duty.
The DOL has released seven new employer-focused videos (2–4 minutes each) covering: Covered Employer, Employee Eligibility, Qualifying Reasons, Certification Process, Military-Related Leave, During Employee’s Leave, and FMLA Prohibitions.
These videos are a great overview of FMLA fundamentals for employers. Download the bulletin for more details.