What's FMLA? FMLA Explained + What You Need to Know About FMLA

[0:06]What's FMLA? FMLA stands for Family and Medical Leave Act. It's a federal labor law passed in 1993 that entitles eligible employees to take unpaid, protected leave for family and medical reasons while continuing group health insurance. Its purpose to help professionals balance the demands of work life and family life. Basically, FMLA provides eligible employees with 12 weeks of unpaid leave each calendar year without threat of losing their job. It also requires that employers maintain health benefits as if the employee is still working there. And the cherry on top? FMLA ensures that employees can return to work without risk of firing or demotion. Eligible employees are able to take 12 weeks within a 12 month period for circumstances including the birth of a child, childcare within the first year of birth, spousal care, childcare or parental care for a relative with a serious health condition, a serious health condition that prevents the employee from performing the essential functions of her job. FMLA exists in order to provide families the space that they need in order to care about their loved ones without agonizing over what's happening with their job security. Certain situations qualify for FMLA. The employee has a serious medical condition. The employee must care for immediate family with a serious medical condition, pregnancy, the birth and care of a newborn, placement or subsequent care of an adopted or foster care child, care of an injured service member. If your family member is a service member in the Armed Forces, there's additional coverage for care available. Covered service member is a current member of the Armed Forces. Care under FMLA for a covered service member includes a service member receiving medical treatment, recuperating from a medical treatment or injury with outpatient status, or a service member on the temporary disability retired list for a serious injury or illness. To see if you're eligible for FMLA, check with your employer, your HR dept, or your state laws. To get started, check out our article on FMLA. We've laid out eligibility, step by step and compiled a list of resources to help you get started.