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Expansion of the Family Medical Leave Act

Background: The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 provides 12 weeks of unpaid leave to employees that meet certain eligibility requirements and who work for employers with 50 or more employees. Lawmakers are looking closely at ways to expand the reach of the Act, as well as making some of the leave paid.
In May, legislation, the Healthy Families Act (H.R.2460), was introduced in the House which would require employers with fifteen or more employees to provide seven days of paid sick leave to their workers. The bill has over 100 cosponsors.

The legislation includes the following key provisions: 

• allow employees to accrue paid sick days at one hour for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum of 56 hours (7 days)
• provide that leave begins accruing from the first day of employment, but may not be taken until an employee works for 60 days
• require medical certification if more than three consecutive days are taken off
• does not require employer to pay terminated employees for unused paid time off
• allow employers who violate act to be sued in federal or state court for lost wages and benefits, liquidated damages, costs, and attorneys fees. 

Impact: Most metalcasters already provide excellent paid time off packages to their employees, but Congress would like to mandate that businesses provide seven days of paid sick leave to their employees in addition to the leave already offered.

Outlook: The House is expected to hold hearings on the Healthy Families Act in the near future.  A Senate companion bill is expected to be introduced soon. There are over five FMLA expansion proposals that have been introduced in Congress so far this year – see chart below which outlines these pieces of legislation.  In fact, lawmakers are considering expanding the FMLA by applying it to businesses with less than fifty employees, broadening the uses for FMLA leave, and requiring employers to pay for eight weeks of the twelve week minimum of leave.

Take Action: Email or fax an opposition letter to your members of Congress and urge them to vote against the Healthy Families Act. A Sample House/Senate letter is below. 

Sample House/Senate Letter

Paid Leave Chart

For more information, contact Stephanie Salmon, Metalcasters Alliance for Government Affairs Office, at ss@wafed.com or 202/842-4864.