Proposal to Expand FMLA Coverage To Small Businesses

By Sally Piefer

On September 29, 2008, Rep. Carol Maloney (D-N.Y.) introduced the Family and Medical Leave Enhancement Act (H.R. 7233), which proposes extending some of the protections of the FMLA to employers who have 25 or more employees. At present, federal and Wisconsin FMLA extends to companies with 50 or more employees. This proposed legislation would provide up to 24 hours of unpaid leave during any 12-month period for parents and grandparents to go to parent-teacher conferences or take their children, grandchildren, or other family members to the doctor for regular medical or dental appointments. Eligible employees would be allowed up to four hours of such leave during any 30-day period. The bill has been referred to the House Education and Labor Committee, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and the House Administration Committee.

In April 2008, Representative Maloney also co-sponsored the Family Leave Insurance Act (H.R. 5873), which would provide workers with 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave to care for themselves or close relatives. This bill proposes establishing a trust, funded by contributions from employers and employees, to pay workers a percentage of their salary for up to 12 weeks while they care for a new child or sick family member, recover from an illness, or deal with an emergency caused by a military deployment.

We will continue to provide updates on these pieces of legislation.

Published: 10/2008