the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), eligible employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave within a 12-month period. This leave can be taken for various reasons, including the birth or adoption of a child, caring for a seriously ill family member, or the employee’s own serious health condition.
The 12-week leave entitlement can be taken all at once or intermittently, depending on the specific circumstances. Intermittent leave allows employees to take leave in separate blocks of time for a single qualifying reason. For example, if an employee needs to attend regular medical appointments or undergo treatment for a serious health condition, they can take intermittent leave.
It’s important to note that FMLA leave is unpaid, meaning that employers are not required to provide salary or wages during the leave period. However, employees may choose to use any accrued paid leave, such as vacation or sick days, to receive compensation during their FMLA leave.
To be eligible for FMLA leave, employees must meet certain criteria. They must have worked for their employer for at least 12 months, have worked at least 1,250 hours during the previous 12 months, and work at a location where the employer has at least 50 employees within a 75-mile radius.