The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Advisor provides information about employee eligibility under FMLA; including valid reasons for leave; employee/employer notification responsibilities; and employee rights and benefits. This Advisor was developed by the Wage and Hour Division of the Employment Standards Administration.

Overview of FMLA
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides certain employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year. It also requires that group health benefits be maintained during the leave.

The FMLA is designed to help employees balance their work and family responsibilities by taking reasonable unpaid leave for certain family and medical reasons. It also seeks to accommodate the legitimate interests of employers, and promotes equal employment opportunity for men and women.

The Family & Medical Leave Act:

• Covers only certain employers;
• Affects only those employees eligible for the protections of the law;
• Involves entitlement to leave;
• Maintains health benefits during leave;
• Restores an employee's job after leave;
• Sets requirements for notice and certification of the need for leave;
• Protects employees who request or take leave; and
• Includes certain employer record keeping requirements.