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November 5, 2008    DOL Home > Find It! By Topic > Leave Benefits   

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Leave Benefits

Leave benefits allow employees to take time off from work. The extent of the leave and whether it is paid in whole, in part, or not at all is generally a matter of agreement between an employer and an employee (or the employee's representative). Certain types of leave are required by law, whereas other types are voluntary incentives provided by employers. See the list of subtopics to the right to narrow your browsing.

The Department of Labor enforces the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Often the public thinks that the FLSA regulates "leave benefits." In fact, there are a number of employment practices which FLSA does not regulate. For example, it does not require:

  • Vacation, holiday, severance, or sick pay.
  • Meal or rest periods, holidays off, or vacations.
  • Premium pay for weekend or holiday work.
  • Pay raises or fringe benefits.
  • Discharge notice, reason for discharge, or immediate payment of final wages to terminated employees.

The Employee Benefits Survey (EBS) of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) covers the incidence and characteristics of employee benefits.

The Office of Compliance Assistance policy offers additional information on leave benefits and compliance assistance.




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