Employers with seventy-five or more employees within a fifty-mile radius must comply with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993. At press time, there is federal legislation pending to change the employer criteria to those with twenty-five or more employees. If this may affect your company, check for updates before assuming that you do not need to comply. FMLA provides unpaid, job-protected leave for up to twelve weeks for any of the following events:

• Birth or adoption of a child

• Care of a biological or adopted child under the age of twelve months

• Placement of foster child in the home

• Employee's own serious medical condition

• Care of a spouse, child, or parent with a serious health condition

The job-protected leave that is provided under the Act means that employees are to return to the same or equivalent job when returning to work. An equivalent job is one with the same pay, benefits, and work hours with the same or similar duties.