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Essay about The Ethical Issues Of Family Medical Leave Act

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The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was eight long years in the making. After many bitter debates between the Republicans and Democrats, Congress passed the Act on February 4, 1993. President Clinton signed the measure into law the following day. The Act became effective on August 5, 1993. The Act required employers with fifty or more employees within a seventy-five mile radius to offer eligible employees up to twelve weeks of unpaid leave during a twelve month period for a variety of medical reasons. Some of the general medical reasons are, for the birth or adoption, to care for a seriously ill parent, spouse or child or to undergo medical treatment for their own illness. The Act spelled out provisions on employer coverage; employee …show more content…

To reduce problems, employers should give injured workers notice of their rights under the FMLA if the injury appears to qualify under both statutes. The protected leave provided by the FMLA may run concurrently while an injured worker receives worker's compensation benefits, but only if the employer gives proper notification to an employee before the individual returns to work. Otherwise, the employee retains all FMLA rights for any future problems or a recurrence of the original injury. This can be a problem when the employee takes FMLA leave "intermittently," to receive rehabilitative services or other treatments. It is essential that front line supervisors be made aware of the basic provisions of these laws to head off misunderstandings. Supervisor training is especially important since and employee is not required to make a specific request for FMLA leave in order to be protected. A uniform policy and supervisory training should help prepare an employer to handle these complex issues. The employer's ethical responsibility is to post notices of employee rights and responsibilities under the FMLA. Also include an FMLA policy in existing employee handbooks or otherwise distribute such a policy, and must notify employees of their rights and responsibilities under the Act when a request for FMLA leave has been made. Those in favor of a national standard for family leave have argued

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