What is FMLA and do I qualify?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
The federal right to up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year, per the DOL: for your own serious health condition, a close family member's, a new child, or certain military-family needs - with health benefits continuing. Eligibility needs all three: a covered employer (50-plus employees, or public), 12 months employed, and 1,250 hours in the prior year. Honest texture: job-protected, not paid - many combine it with accrued leave or state paid programs. Expect to provide medical certification - standard paperwork, not suspicion.
What to do
- Check the three eligibility tests. Employer size, 12 months, 1,250 hours.
- Plan the pay gap. FMLA protects the job; paid leave is a separate stack.
- Check your state law too. Some states cover smaller employers and pay.
- Get the medical certification early. Your doctor's office knows the form.
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