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After 20 Years It’s Time to Ask: Is the FMLA Still Working?
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It’s hard to believe that the FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) was signed into law 20 years ago. How has the FMLA impacted employers, workers and their families?
The U.S. Department of Labor recently conducted a survey addressing that very question. According to the report, the FMLA has had a positive effect on the lives of workers and their families without imposing an undue burden on employers, and has created very little disruption in the workplace.
Here are some key findings from the survey:
Small to medium sized firms reported very little difficulty in administering FMLA. Larger employers, however, reported more problems: 3 percent said that administration was “very difficult” and 29 percent said administration was “somewhat difficult.”
Half of employers surveyed reported that administration of FMLA is becoming more expensive.
Intermittent leave (two or more episodes of leave for the same reason) has been one of the key FMLA concerns for employers. Employee responses indicate that only about 3 percent took any intermittent leave. Employers have a somewhat different perspective on intermittent leave. Reports of the negative effects of intermittent leave on profitability and productivity were as high as 25 percent.
According to Mary Beth Maxwell, Acting Deputy Administrator for the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor:
The significance of the FMLA is in its recognition that workers aren’t just contributing to the success of a business, but away from their jobs they are contributing to the heath and well-being of their families. Our survey results show that, for two decades, granting job-protected leave has been good for employers and good for millions of workers and their loved ones. The FMLA is working.”
Based on the results of this survey, “it appears that employee use of leave and employers granting and administration of leave has achieved a level of stability.”
FMLA is a complex area riddled with potential pitfalls. But it seems that 20 years later, employers have a pretty good handle on administration.
What do you think? Is FMLA working?
This was originally published at the Compensation Café blog, where you can find a daily dose of caffeinated conversation on everything compensation.