{"id":357877,"date":"2016-04-04T10:45:29","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:45:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/employment\/wages-and-benefits\/time-off-from-work.html"},"modified":"2025-01-10T13:33:38","modified_gmt":"2025-01-10T18:33:38","slug":"time-off-from-work","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/wages-and-benefits\/time-off-from-work.html","title":{"rendered":"Guide to Leave Laws: Your Legal Right to Time Off from Work"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Guide to Leave Laws: Your Legal Right to Time Off from Work<\/h1>\n
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\n By Olivia Wathne, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Most people are pleased to have a job and a means for providing for their family. But, every so often, a worker needs time off<\/a> \u2014 to take care of their sick family members, vote, or recover from their own illnesses. Here, you can find information relating to laws that protect taking time off from work and whether such time off is paid or unpaid.<\/p>\r\n

Family and Medical Leave<\/h2>\r\n

The Family and Medical Leave Act<\/a> (FMLA) is a federal law that grants employees the right to an extended leave of absence for specific family or medical circumstances. The FMLA extends to government agencies, private businesses, and companies with 50 or more employees in at least 20 weeks over the past calendar year.<\/p>\r\n

For employees to qualify, they must have worked for at least 12 months and accumulated 1,250 hours within the 12 months immediately before their leave. Also, their worksite must be within the U.S. or a U.S. territory, and the employer must have a workforce of at least 50 employees within a 75-mile radius. Once these criteria are met, eligible employees<\/a> can take leave for various reasons, including:<\/p>\r\n