FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 5, 1995

CONTACT: Sharon J. Wells (202) 606-1800 sjwells@opm.gov

Washington, D.C.--The Office of Personnel Management today issued final regulations designed to help employees meet the demands of their jobs without sacrificing the needs of their families. These regulations implement Title II of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA), which became effective on August 5, 1993.

The FMLA provides certain federal employees a total of 12 weeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period for:

• the birth of a son or daughter and care of the newborn;
• the placement of a child with the employee for adoption or foster care;
• the care of the employee's spouse, son, daughter, or parent with a serious health condition; or,
• a serious health condition of the employee that makes the employee unable to perform the essential functions of his or her position.

The employee may continue health benefits (by paying their share of the premium) while he or she is on leave and is entitled to be returned to the same position or to an equivalent position with equivalent benefits, pay, status, and other terms and conditions of employment.

"This family-friendly policy provides an important safety-net for federal employees and gives them the peace of mind that they will not lose their jobs when family responsibilities call," said OPM Director Jim King.

President Clinton signed the Family and Medical Leave Act on February 5, 1993. Title I of the FMLA covers private sector employees, state and local government employees and certain federal employees not covered by Title II. Final regulations on Title I were issued by the Department of Labor in January 1995. OPM's interim regulations on Title II (published in July 1993) were revised to be consistent with DOL's Title I final regulations and to assist agencies in administering the FMLA.

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