On February 5th we will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This transformative legislation requires employers to provide unpaid leave for qualifying family or medical reasons. Recently, the National Partnership for Women and Families released a study finding American workers have accessed the protections of the FMLA more than 460 million times.
We laud the support the FMLA provides to so many people, but much more needs to be done. In line with our mandate from General Convention, the Office of Government Relations will continue to advocate for a national program “for citizens to take paid family leave in order to care for a newborn child, a foster or adopted child, or immediate family members who require care during illness, as well as providing paid sick leave to the fullest extent possible.”
It is time for Congress to ensure no worker loses their job due to the need to care for themselves or a loved one.