An Assessment of Family and Medical Leave Policy
Abstract
The US Family and Medical Leave Act (Public Law 103-3, or 29 CFR 825) and similar policies throughout the world, such as maternity leave policies (PL507 Rev 4) in the UK, or Maternity and Parental leave in Canada, are policies that require employers to provide an employee with a period of leave for the birth or adoption of a child, family and dependent health needs, or personal illness. Under these acts, typically the employer must allow the employee to return to the same position or a position similar to that held before taking the leave. In the United States, an employee is entitled up to 12 weeks of leave in a year's time. This paper assesses the history of Family and Medical Leave policies, individual state provisions, and the effects of the policies on both employer and employee. The paper also suggests several amendments to the policies.