New Changes to the FMLA Effective Immediately

On Monday, January 28, 2008, President Bush signed into law legislation that expands the Family and Medical Leave Act’s coverage for family members of employees called for military service. The expansion requires employers to offer up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to employees when a spouse, child or parent is on active duty or is called up for active duty. Leave could be for any “exigency” as defined by regulations to be drafted by the Labor Department. In addition, the new law allows employees who are the spouses, children, parents or next of kin of a service member to take up to 26 weeks of leave under the FMLA to care for a service member injured during military service to the point of being unable to perform his or her duties. The law became effective when it was signed.