The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons. This fact sheet provides general information about which employers are covered by the FMLA, when employees are eligible and entitled to take FMLA leave, and what rules apply when employees take FMLA leave.

Eligible employees may take up to 12 work weeks of leave in a 12-month period for one or more of the following reasons:

• The birth of a son or daughter or placement of a son or daughter with the employee for adoption or foster care;

• To care for a spouse, son, daughter, or parent who has a serious health condition;

• For a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the essential functions of his or her job; or

• For any qualifying exigency arising out of the fact that a spouse, son, daughter, or parent is a military member on covered active duty or call to covered active duty status.

This act requires employers to provide up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave to eligible employees. Please see the FMLA poster on the Human Resources website for further information.