Providing employees with expanded family medical leave is good for workers, good for businesses, and good for North Carolina’s economy

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is the first and only federal legislation written specifically to help workers meet the dual responsibilities of family and work. FMLA guarantees job-protected, unpaid leave for up to 12 weeks to care for a newborn or newly adopted child; care for a seriously ill child, parent or spouse; or recover from a serious illness. Since its implementation in 1993, FMLA has enabled more than 35 million workers to deal with health issues or family responsibilities without risking their jobs.