Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), how many weeks of unpaid leave are eligible employees entitled to?

Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), eligible employees are entitled to 12 weeks of unpaid leave within a 12-month period. This provision allows employees to take time off for specific family and medical reasons, including the birth of a child, to care for a family member with a serious health condition, or for their own serious health condition that makes them unable to perform their job.

The Act ensures that employees can focus on significant life and health events without the risk of losing their job, as they have the right to return to their same or equivalent position following their leave. This entitlement to 12 weeks is a crucial part of the FMLA, distinguishing it from other leave policies that may offer shorter or varying durations of leave.