U.S. Office of Personnel ManagementTHE WHITE HOUSE
|
April 11, 1997
MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND
AGENCIES
SUBJECT: Expanded Family and Medical Leave Policies
I have strongly supported meeting Federal employees' family and
medical leave needs through enactment of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA)
and
the Federal Employees Family Friendly Leave Act of 1994 (FEFFLA).
However, Federal employees often have important family and
medical needs that do not qualify for unpaid leave under the FMLA
or sick leave under the FEFFLA. I ask you to take immediate
action to assist Federal workers further in balancing the demands
of work and family.
Last year I proposed to expand the Family and Medical Leave Act
of 1993. My legislation would allow Federal and eligible private
sector workers 24 hours of unpaid leave during any 12-month
period to fulfill certain family obligations. Under the
legislation, employees could use unpaid leave to participate in
school activities directly related to the educational advancement
of a child, including early childhood education activities;
accompany children to routine medical and dental examinations;
and tend to the needs of older relatives.
In furtherance of my proposed policy, I ask that you take
immediate action within existing statutory authorities to ensure
that Federal employees may schedule and be granted up to 24 hours
of leave without pay each year for the following activities:
This new policy will assure that Federal employees can
schedule and receive up to 24 hours away from the job each year
for these family and medical circumstances. I also urge you to
accommodate these employee needs as mission requirements permit,
even when it is not possible for employees to anticipate or
schedule leave in advance for these purposes. In addition, I ask
that you support employees' requests to schedule paid time
off--such as annual leave, compensatory time off, and credit
hours under flexible work schedules--for these family activities
when such leave is available to these employee. The Office of Personnel Management shall
provide guidance to you on the implementation of this memorandum.
I encourage you to use a partnership approach with your employees
and their representatives in developing an effective program that
balances the employees' needs to succeed both at work and at
home. I ask agencies, unions, and management associations to
continue to work together to assess and improve the use of
family-friendly programs and to make certain that employees are
aware of the expanded family and medical leave policy.
William J. Clinton |
Updated 23 April, 1997