Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) – Background, Key Provisions & Recent Changes

• By: Staff Editor
• Date: June 30, 2009

The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) is a United States federal law requiring larger employers to provide employees job-protected unpaid leave due to a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform his or her job, or to care for a sick family member, or to care for a new child. President Clinton signed the bill into law on February 5, 1993 and it took effect on August 5, 1993, six months later. It was enacted to strike a balance between work and family. The FMLA provides job security and mandates the continuation of benefits for workers who need time off to attend to serious family matters.

This article describes the background, main provisions and recent changes to the FMLA.