Since its passage in 1993, the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) has allowed 100 million American workers to take job-protected time off to care for their loved ones or themselves when they need it most. In the near future, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is expected to recommend changes to the FMLA regulations. Opponents of the law are pressuring the DOL to make changes that could mean millions of Americans will be denied access to leave.

Friends of the FMLA, a coalition of more than 200 state and national organizations, are urging the DOL to uphold the FMLA and ensure that hard-working Americans will continue to benefit from this truly family-friendly law.

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Press Materials:

  • Nation's Top Leave Expert Applauds FMLA Correction
  • The Need for FMLA Expansion: Testimony of Debra Ness before the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections
  • The Need for Paid Parental Leave: Joint Hearing Testimony by Debra Ness
  • The Importance of FMLA: Senate Testimony by Debra Ness
  • Work Family Leader Concerned about New Leave Obstacles for Workers
  • National Partnership Urges Leave-Takers to Stand Up and Be Counted
  • First-Ever Expansion of Family & Medical Leave Act Becomes Law
  • Work Family Leader “Gravely Concerned” about Announcement of FMLA Regulations
  • Senate Passes First-Ever Expansion of Family & Medical Leave Act
  • Nation’s Top Family Leave Expert Lauds Commission on Care For Urging Extended Family and Medical Leave for Soldiers’ Families
  • Nation’s Top Family Leave Expert Warns Against Rolling Back FMLA Protections
  • Groups Representing Millions of Americans File Comments to Expand, Not Restrict FMLA
  • Comments submitted by National Partnership for Women & Families
  • Labor Department’s Request for Information On the Family & Medical Leave Act is Alarming
  • 12th Anniversary of Family & Medical Leave Act
  • Senate HELP Committee Roundtable Hearing on the FMLA
  • Letter to the DOL from more than 200 organizations in support of the FMLA
  • Letter to the DOL from Members of the U.S. House of Representatives
  • Letter to the DOL from U.S. Senators
  • Summary of Ragsdale v. Wolverine

    Additional Information:
  • Department of Labor's "Request for Information"
  • Facts About the FMLA: What it is, Who takes it and How
  • Employers' Views of the FMLA
  • Current FMLA Regulations
  • FMLA Statute
  • Guide to the Family & Medical Leave Act
  • About the National Partnership for Women & Families

    • Recent News:

  • Parental Leave Elusive for Many U.S. Workers (6/5/08 CNN.com)
  • Paid Family Leave Becomes Hot Workplace Issue (6/1/08 MSNBC)
  • A Peaceful Revolution: Is the Nation Poised to Adopt Laws That Work for Working Families? (5/30/08 The Huffington Post)
  • Family Leave Violations Detailed (5/27/08 The Oregonian)
  • Leave Rules May Tighten (2/19/08 The Washington Post)
  • Labor Dept. Working on Changes for Families Coping With Illness and Military Duty (1/25/08 The New York Times)