Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA)

The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) is a United States labor law requiring covered employers to provide employees with job-protection and unpaid leave for qualified medical and family reasons. The Wage and Hour Division of the United States Department of Labor (DOL) administers the FMLA. The FAA is covered by Title I of the FMLA.

What does the FMLA provide & what are the entitlements of FMLA (under Title I)?

FMLA provides up to a total of 12 workweeks of unpaid leave (or accrued paid leave) during the 12-month period for one or more of the following reasons:

For the birth and care of a son or daughter;
For placement of a son or daughter for adoption or foster care with the employee;
To care for the employee’s spouse, son, daughter, (under the age of 18, or 18 or older if incapable of self-care), or parent with a serious health condition; and/or
For a serious health condition that renders the employee unable to perform the essential functions of his or her job.

FMLA entitlements include:

Job-protected, unpaid family and medical, military caregiver, and qualifying exigency leave;
Continuation of health benefits while on leave;
Right to return to the same position, or an equal position with equivalent pay, benefits, and working conditions;
Agency authority to obtain certification to substantiate the FMLA-qualifying leave;
Agency authority to obtain certification to substantiate the restoration to employment when the absence was for the employee’s own serious health condition.

More information can be found at:

FAA Human Resource Policy Manual (HRPM) Volume 8: Leave and Work Schedules LWS-8.20 Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

OPM Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Who can I contact for questions regarding FMLA?

If you have any questions regarding FMLA & PPL, please feel free to contact your servicing Labor & Employee Relations Specialist, FAA FMLA Program Manager, or at the FAA National mailbox: 9-AHR-FMLA@FAA.GOV.