Publication Type: Fact Sheet

Family and Medical Leave Act: 20 Years Later

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the first and only legislation written specifically to help workers meet the dual responsibilities of family and work, was signed into law on February 5, 1993.

NC’s unemployment insurance fails standards that make the program effective

Unemployment insurance changes made in 2013 continue to play out poorly in communities across the state. Jobless workers have lost access to a system designed to provide temporary support while they seek new jobs, and communities facing significant job loss and persistently high unemployment have lost a stabilizing resource in their local economies.

U.S. Citizen Students with Undocumented Parents

North Carolina has introduced a new online system, the “Residency Determination Service” (RDS), for students applying to college to determine whether they are “residents” or “non-residents” for purposes of tuition.

H-2A Workers, Taxes, and the Affordable Care Act

Because they are in the United States lawfully on non-immigrant visas, H-2A workers are eligible to purchase an insurance policy through the federal Marketplace and to receive a tax credit to help pay for that insurance coverage.

NC’s Medicaid Choice: Options and Implications

In 2013, Governor Pat McCrory and the North Carolina General Assembly chose not to expand Medicaid to those with incomes below 133% of the federal poverty line. Consequently, North Carolina today is among a minority of 24 states not receiving federal Medicaid expansion funding. Some states in this minority such as New Hampshire and Utah are moving towards accepting funding.

Expand Certificates of Relief

We propose the General Assembly expand eligibility for Certificates of Relief to individuals with multiple misdemeanor and low-level felony convictions, increase the waiting period for relief to 36-months for certain individuals, and establish a filing fee of $50.

Minimum Wage and the Economy

Many North Carolina workers are locked in low-wage jobs that don’t pay enough to make ends meet, even though they’re working full-time. Over the long-term, state lawmakers need to implement a comprehensive strategy that creates pathways out of this low-wage economy.

Family Medical Leave is Good for Everyone

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.

Healthy Workers, Profitable Businesses

Everyone gets sick, but more than a million workers in North Carolina have no opportunity to earn paid sick leave. When illness inevitably strikes, they must take unpaid time off—sacrificing their wages so they can get well or care of sick loved ones. They may even face retaliation from their employers and could lose their jobs.

Support the FAMILY Act

Congress should pass the FAMILY Act—crucial legislation enacting a national paid family and medical leave insurance program that allows people to continue receiving a portion of their wages when they need time away from work for family or medical reasons.