President Bush signs FMLA leave expansion

On January 28, 2008, President Bush signed into law amendments to the Family Medical Leave Act.  The amendments grant additional leave under FMLA to employees who have family members in the military.  The legislation creates two new categories of FMLA leave:

1) Active Duty Family Leave -  Employees with a spouse, parent, or child who is on, or has been called to, active duty in the Armed Forces, may take up to 12 weeks of FMLA leave when they experience a "qualifying exigency."

2)  Injured Servicemember Leave -  Employees who are the spouse, parent, child or next of kin of a servicemember who incurred a serious injury or illness on active duty in the Armed Forces may take up to 26 weeks of leave in a 12-month period (including regular FMLA leave).