What is the FMLA Law and How Can it Help You?
The FMLA Law was made to set the minimum standard by which employers are supposed to provide unpaid leave to certain workers within the United States. The purpose of the FMLA Law is to protect the growth of families and also to protect people who need time off due to medical complications for themsevles or people in their family. Before the this law was in existence, the employer was the one who determined whether or not an individual was entitled to time off because of medical reasons. However, this allowed employers to deny requests for medical leave without giving a viable reason for doing so.
In fact, when there was no FMLA Law, employees could actually be fired for taking family and medical leave. Therefore, the this law was passed in order to require employers to be reasonable in regards to granting medical leave to employees.
Some Qualifications of the FMLA Law
In order to qualify for the benefits of the FMLA Law, a worker is required to be employed by a business with fifty employees or more and must also have worked for that employer for at least 12 months and a total 1,250 hours within that 12 month period. However, the this law does not require for the 12 months to be worked consecutively in order to qualify for these benefits. As long as these qualifications are met, an individual is able to take advantage of the full benefits of the FMLA Law.
Benefits of the FMLA Law
The FMLA Law makes provision for job protection during unpaid leave for a maximum of 12 weeks each year. This means that medical leave can be taken by a mother in order to care for a new child; whether it is a natural born child, adopted child or child placed as a result of a foster care arrangement. This law also allows medical needs to be taken in order to care for a seriously ill family member such as a parent or spouse or to recover from one’s own serious illness.
In addition, the FMLA Law also allows you to take time off to care for an injured member of the armed services who is in the family or also to address qualifying exigencies which have occurred as a result of a family member’s deployment. This law also promises an employee restoration to the position which they held before their medical leave began. If the position is no longer available, then the employer is required by the FMLA Law to make arrangements for the employer to have a position which is equal in pay, benefits and required responsibilities.
FMLA Law also provides protection to the employee while they are on the leave provided by the law. This means that an employer cannot take action against an employee which would be in direct violation of the benefits provided to them by this law.
There are other details regarding be FMLA Law which are designed to protect employees taking family medical leave. If you are in a position where you feel that you need legal assistance in defending the rights granted to you by this law, then it is time to speak with someone who understands these details.
For a free consultation, simply fill in your contact information in the form on this page and within 24 hours you'll be contacted by someone who can help you in protecting your FMLA Law rights.
