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ESA News Release: [02/05/2003] Contact Name: Yvonne
Ralsky Phone Number: (202)693-4676
Labor Department Marks 10 Years of Family and Medical
Leave Act Anniversary Serves as Reminder to Know your Rights
WASHINGTON The law that provides up to 12 workweeks of
unpaid leave annually for family and medical reasons was enacted 10 years ago
today and is enforced by the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of
Labors Employment Standards Administration.
Over the last 10 years, the Family and Medical Leave Act has
provided valuable job protections for millions of workers who have faced
serious illnesses, or have required time off to care for their families,
said Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao. Perhaps now more than ever, when
balancing work and home life is increasingly difficult, it is vitally important
for employees and employers to understand their rights and obligations under
the law.
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires employers with 50 or
more employees to provide job-protected leave for eligible employees to care
for a child after birth, adoption or placement for foster care; to care for
their spouse, son, daughter or parent who suffers from a serious health
condition; or to care for their own serious health condition that prevents them
from performing their job.
To be considered eligible, employees must work for an employer who has
50 or more employees within 75 miles of their work site, and must have worked
for the employer for 12 months and worked at least 1,250 hours in the 12 months
prior to taking FMLA leave.
For the duration of FMLA leave, employers must maintain the
employees health coverage under group health plans. Most employees must
be restored to their original or equivalent positions with equivalent pay,
benefits and other employment terms. Furthermore, the use of FMLA leave cannot
result in the loss of any employment benefit that accrued prior to the start of
a workers leave.
Todays anniversary is a good reminder that these protections
are available for workers, and if they have questions, they should contact the
Department of Labor, Chao said.
The U.S. Labor Departments Web site includes Frequently Asked
Questions about the FMLA http://www.dol.gov/elaws/esa/fmla/faq.asp
and an FMLA Compliance Assistance page for employers
http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/whd/1421.htm.
For further information, you can call the departments toll-free help line
at 1-866-4USWAGE.
Note to TV Producers: On Friday, Feb. 7, the Department of Labor
will have a satellite television news feed 1:00p.m.to 1:30p.m. EST on Galaxy 3
Transponder 7 C-Band, downlink frequency 3840 horizontal. The news feed will
highlight the Family and Medical Leave Act 10th anniversary with interviews
from the Secretary of Labor and the administrator of the Wage and Hour
Division. The feed will also contain B-Roll footage related to the FMLA. For
technical information on the feed please contact Tom Accardi (202) 693-5040 or
Ken Pfeifer (202) 693-5045.
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