Definition: The 1993 law that entitles a covered employee to take up to 12
weeks of leave in a 12-month period for the birth or adoption of a
child or the serious health condition of the employee or the
employee's child, spouse or parent
The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires
employers to give workers up to 12 weeks off to attend to the birth
or adoption of a baby, or the serious health condition of the
employee or an immediate family member.
After 12 weeks of unpaid leave, you must reinstate the employee
in the same job or an equivalent one. The 12 weeks of leave does
not have to be taken all at once; in some cases, employees can take
it a day at a time.
In most states, only employers with 50 or more employees are
subject to the FMLA. However, some states have family leave laws
that place family leave requirements on businesses with as few as
five employees. To find out your state's requirements, contact your
state labor department.