Family and Medical Leave Information

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was signed into law by President Clinton in 1993. It requires employers to grant eligible employees leave for certain family and medical reasons. Under the law, eligible employees are entitled to the following:

• Up to a total of 12 workweeks of leave during any 12-month   period for one or more of the following reasons:
  • the birth or placement of a child for adoption or foster care, and to care for the newborn child within one year of birth/placement;
  • any qualifying exigency arising out of the fact that the employee’s spouse, son, daughter, or parent is a covered military service member on “covered active duty;” or
  • a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the essential functions of his or her job;
  • to care for the employee’s spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition;

• Up to a total of 26 workweeks of leave during any 12-month period to care   for a covered military servicemember with a serious injury or illness if the   eligible employee is the servicemember’s spouse, son, daughter, parent, or next of kin (military caregiver leave).

Family and Medical Leave Act Forms and Resources

The following documents and links provide guidance and assistance for APWU members and representatives when applying the provisions of the FMLA to postal employees.

• FMLA Forms
• Revised FMLA Forms
• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Questions and Answers
• Your Rights Under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993
• Arbitration Award: USPS #Q06C-4Q-C 11001666 and Q06C-4Q-C 11008239
• Web News Article: APWU Wins Important FMLA Arbitration
• Arbitration Award: USPS #Q00C-4Q-C 02126262
• Arbitration Award: USPS #H98C-4H-D 99290624
• USPS and Department of Labor (DOL) Letters Regarding 1250 Work-hour Eligibility Requirement
• The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) FMLA Compliance Assistance site