The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires covered employers to grant up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job protected leave to eligible employees for the birth of a child, to treat a serious health condition, or to care for a seriously ill family member.

FMLA has also been expanded to offer up to 26 weeks of unpaid leave for family of service members when they need care or when other exigencies arise, as specified in the new regulations.

Companies are covered by FMLA if they have 50 or more employees on payroll within a 75-mile radius. Employees of covered entities are eligible for FMLA leave if they have worked for the covered employer for at least one year and have performed at least 1,250 hours of paid work over the past 12 months. The law is enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

Surveys of human resources professions have consistently ranked FMLA as the most time-consuming and challenging of all labor law regulations to comply with. That's why Personnel Concepts and its research staff have devoted considerable time and energy in mastering--and then simplifying for those out in the field--the complexities of FMLA.

Personnel Concepts' FMLA compliance products include tools, forms, posters, and information to help HR managers at FMLA-covered worksites meet their obligations under the law, including new DOL regulations effective January 16th, 2009.