FMLA Family and Medical Leave Act

Your job, your health, your family, federal law protects all three. Here's what FMLA means for you.WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS VIDEO- What the Family and Medical Leave Act covers and who qualifies- Eligibility rules: hours worked, employer size, and location- Job protection, intermittent leave, and paid vs. unpaid rules- How FMLA affects schools, children, and working families- Key court trends shaping FMLA enforcement and litigation- How state laws and proposed federal changes are expanding rightsThe Family and Medical Leave Act entitles eligible employees to up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for qualifying family and medical reasons, with group health insurance maintained throughout. To qualify, you must have worked for your employer at least 12 months, logged 1,250 hours in the past year, and work where the employer has 50 or more employees within 75 miles. Covered reasons include a newborn, adoption, foster placement, a serious health condition of the employee or close family member, and military caregiver leave up to 26 weeks. Courts are increasingly applying stricter causation standards in retaliation cases, and post-return litigation is rising. States including California, Colorado, and New Jersey now offer broader definitions and paid benefits, and the proposed FAMILY Act could transform FMLA nationally. Advocates continue pushing to lower employer thresholds and expand who counts as "family."Learn more about FMLA Family and Medical Leave Act by visiting:https://kidlaw.org/2026/02/23/fmla-family-and-medical-leave-act/