FMLA (1993) Sam and Joseph

Legislative history Introduced in the House as H.R. 1 by William D. Ford (D-MI) on January 5, 1993 Committee consideration by: House Education and Labor, House Post Office and Civil Service Passed the House on February 3, 1993 Passed the Senate on February 4, 1993 with amendment House agreed to Senate amendment on February 4, 1993 Signed into law by President Bill Clinton on February 5, 1993

Law and enforcement The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) law requiring employers to provide employees job-protected and unpaid leave for qualified medical and family reasons. The FMLA is administered by the Wage and Hour Division of the United States Department of Labor.

Reasons to use The FMLA mandates unpaid, job-protected leave for up to 12 weeks a year: to care for a new child, or for the adoption or placement of a child in foster care; to care for a seriously ill family member (spouse, son, daughter, or parent) to recover from a worker’s own serious illness; to care for an injured service member in the family to address qualifying exigencies arising out of a family member’s deployment. The FMLA further requires employers to provide for eligible workers: The same group health insurance benefits, including employer contributions to premiums, that would exist if the employee were not on leave. Restoration to the same position upon return to work. If the same position is unavailable, the employer must provide the worker with a position that is substantially equal in pay, benefits, and responsibility. Protection of employee benefits while on leave. An employee is entitled to reinstatement of all benefits to which the employee was entitled before going on leave. Protection of the employee to not have their rights under the Act interfered with or denied by an employer. Protection of the employee from retaliation by an employer for exercising rights under the Act.

exemptions The federal FMLA does not apply to: workers in businesses with fewer than 50 employees part-time workers who have worked fewer than 1,250 hours within the 12 months preceding the leave and a paid vacation; workers who need time off to care for seriously ill elderly relatives (other than parents) or pets; workers who need time off to recover from short-term or common illness like a cold, or to care for a family member with a short-term illness workers who need time off for routine medical care, such as check-ups.

Controversy Some say that since this act is used much more by women it will cause discrimination against them in the hiring process.

Bill Clinton (D) January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001

William D. Ford (D-MI)