Minneapolis, MN employment law attorney Ashwin Madia talks about the Family and Medical Act (FMLA). He explains that the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year to address serious health conditions for themselves or for family members. If an employee meets the eligibility requirements, the employer is legally obligated to provide the leave.

To qualify, an employee must have worked for the employer for at least one year and completed approximately 1,250 hours of work, roughly equivalent to full-time employment over a year. The employer must also meet a size threshold, employing at least 50 employees within a 75-mile radius.

When these conditions are satisfied, the FMLA protects employees’ jobs while they care for themselves or a family member, such as a spouse, child, or parent. If an employer retaliates against an employee for taking FMLA leave—through termination, demotion, or a reduction in pay—the employee may pursue a legal claim under the FMLA.