Workers have to meet certain standards to be eligible for unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The law imposes a minimum number of coworkers, as well as minimum standards for recent work history.
There are also only a handful of circumstances in which FMLA leave is possible. Those who are confident that their circumstances meet the standards enshrined in the FMLA can request that their employers provide them with unpaid leave.
What is the maximum amount of leave that employees can seek?
Most workers only receive 12 weeks
Generally speaking, the FMLA has very clear restrictions on the total amount of unpaid leave. An employee is typically eligible for 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year. Even if they experience multiple qualifying circumstances in under a year, the maximum amount of FMLA leave is typically still 12 weeks.
There is one situation in which professionals may be eligible for additional leave. Those taking time off to care for an immediate family member’s medical needs may sometimes qualify for up to 26 weeks of leave.
However, that increased leave duration is only available to those providing medical support to a family member who is also an active-duty service member. Those requesting unpaid leave may need to balance their proposed schedule with the possibility of the need for leave again in the same year.
Learning more about the FMLA can help professionals assert themselves, manage their health and care for their loved ones. Employees denied FMLA leave or punished for taking it may require support as they seek to hold their employers accountable, and that’s okay.