If an employee missed work due to either his or her own illness, the employee may qualify for job protections under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which is a federal law administered by the U.S. Department of Labor. Under state law, no such protections exist.
Under federal law, covered employers must grant an eligible employee up to a total of 12 workweeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period for one or more of the following reasons:
- for the birth and care of the newborn child of the employee;
- for placement with the employee of a son or daughter for adoption or foster care;
- to care for an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent) with a serious health condition; or
- to take medical leave when the employee is unable to work because of a serious health condition.
For more information on FMLA, visit http://www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/index.htm