On Dec. 1, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a Request for Information (RFI) on the FMLA, a 14-year-old law that has allowed more than 50 million Americans to take job-protected, unpaid leave to care for a new baby or seriously ill family member, or recover from their own serious illness.
The law is widely seen as one of the most important advances for working families in decades, but a small number of business groups has urged the administration to roll back the protections it provides. The RFI alarmed many advocates for family-friendly workplaces because of its sweeping approach that could open up many aspects of the FMLA for review.
Feb. 16 was the deadline for filing comments. Several organizations urged the administration to expand – not restrict – the law. Those groups included AARP, AFL-CIO, American Diabetes Association, Institute for Women\'s Policy Research, National Family Caregivers Association, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Women\'s Law Center, Service Employees International Union, Women Employed, and 9to5.
"The Family & Medical Leave Act has been a tremendous success story," said National Partnership President Debra L. Ness. "There is simply no reason to weaken a law that is making America\'s workplaces more family-friendly and helping individuals be productive workers and responsible family members.
"We should expand the law to cover more workers who need leave for more reasons and provide paid leave for the millions who cannot afford to miss a paycheck when new babies come or illness strikes. We urge the administration to stand up for working families by saying \'no\' to the small group of anti-FMLA businesses that want to weaken the law."
Senator Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., has announced plans to introduce federal legislation that will provide six weeks of paid family and medical leave to workers. California adopted paid leave in 2002, and benefits have been payable since July 1, 2004.
Although the deadline for filing comments has passed, there is no deadline for the Department of Labor to take action.
Share
On Dec. 1, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a Request for Information (RFI) on the FMLA, a 14-year-old law that has allowed more than 50 million Americans to take job-protected, unpaid leave to care for a new baby or seriously ill family member, or recover from their own serious illness.
The law is widely seen as one of the most important advances for working families in decades, but a small number of business groups has urged the administration to roll back the protections it provides. The RFI alarmed many advocates for family-friendly workplaces because of its sweeping approach that could open up many aspects of the FMLA for review.
Feb. 16 was the deadline for filing comments. Several organizations urged the administration to expand – not restrict – the law. Those groups included AARP, AFL-CIO, American Diabetes Association, Institute for Women\’s Policy Research, National Family Caregivers Association, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Women\’s Law Center, Service Employees International Union, Women Employed, and 9to5.
"The Family & Medical Leave Act has been a tremendous success story," said National Partnership President Debra L. Ness. "There is simply no reason to weaken a law that is making America\’s workplaces more family-friendly and helping individuals be productive workers and responsible family members.
"We should expand the law to cover more workers who need leave for more reasons and provide paid leave for the millions who cannot afford to miss a paycheck when new babies come or illness strikes. We urge the administration to stand up for working families by saying \’no\’ to the small group of anti-FMLA businesses that want to weaken the law."
Senator Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., has announced plans to introduce federal legislation that will provide six weeks of paid family and medical leave to workers. California adopted paid leave in 2002, and benefits have been payable since July 1, 2004.
Although the deadline for filing comments has passed, there is no deadline for the Department of Labor to take action.