The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows eligible employees to take unpaid, job-protected leave for family or medical reasons. Here’s how it works in 2025.
1. Who’s Eligible?
- You’ve worked for your employer at least 12 months
- You’ve clocked 1,250 hours over the past year
- Employer has 50+ employees
2. What It Covers
You can take up to 12 weeks unpaid leave for:
- Birth or adoption of a child
- Serious personal health condition
- Care for a spouse, parent, or child with serious illness
3. Rights
- Return to same or equivalent position
- Keep your health insurance
- Employer can’t retaliate for using FMLA
4. Documentation
You must give 30 days’ notice (when possible) and may need to provide medical certification.