Legal Momentum on the Federal Employees Paid Leave Act (FEPLA)

February 8, 2013 -

Tuesday, February 5 was the 20th anniversary of the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA).  The FMLA provides vital protection to workers across the country who need time off to care for family and self without risking their jobs.  President Obama acknowledged this milestone with an official statement on the White House website supporting the FMLA.  The President urged that the nation recommit to values of fairer workplaces and healthier families.

Legal Momentum celebrates the FMLA's anniversary, and also applauds U.S. Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Gerald Connolly (D-VA), and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) for introducing the Federal Employees Paid Leave Act (FEPLA).  The FEPLA legislation would provide all federal employees four weeks of paid parental leave for the birth, adoption, or fostering of a child. Currently, the federal government does not provide such paid leave.

Legal Momentum has long supported policies that expand parental leave as well as child care.  FEPLA's provisions would benefit children and families at a most critical time.  "The Federal Government should be a leader in establishing paid parental leave for employees," said Legal Momentum President Elizabeth Grayer.  "Many private sector employers already recognize the positive effect of offering paid parental leave.  Good leave policies are fair to both employees and employers.  The protection of legislation such as the FMLA and potentially that of FEPLA means employees can have healthier families without jeopardizing their employment."