{"attribution":{"source":"legal.exploreworldai.com","canonical":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/topic-graph/us/fmla-leave","cite_as":"NovaCopilot, legal.exploreworldai.com (https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/topic-graph/us/fmla-leave)","license":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/revision","version":"legal-2026-11-03","fingerprint":"ewai:us:699d2c","proof":"sha256:58bc6d4d71040cebf56ea6d069ab8e6c5ae90b31bd233a98a115ec8d4ad365c1","jurisdiction":"us","lang":"en"},"brand_source":"Source: NovaCopilot","id":"topic:us:fmla-leave","object_type":"topic","schema_version":"1","jurisdiction":"us","title_en":"FMLA leave","short_answer_en":"Eligible employees get up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for their own or a family member's serious health condition or a new child.","law":{"title":"Family and Medical Leave Act, 29 U.S.C. 2611–2619","source_url":"https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title29-section2612"},"chain":{"elements":[{"id":"topic:us:fmla-leave#element-1","label":"Employer with 50+ employees"},{"id":"topic:us:fmla-leave#element-2","label":"Employee with 12 months and 1,250 hours of service"},{"id":"topic:us:fmla-leave#element-3","label":"Worksite with 50 employees within 75 miles"}],"obligations":[{"id":"topic:us:fmla-leave#obligation-1","duty":"Grant up to 12 weeks leave in 12 months, 26 weeks for military caregivers","cite":"29 U.S.C. 2612(a)"},{"id":"topic:us:fmla-leave#obligation-2","duty":"Keep group health coverage during leave","cite":"29 U.S.C. 2614(c)"},{"id":"topic:us:fmla-leave#obligation-3","duty":"Restore the employee to the same or an equivalent job","cite":"29 U.S.C. 2614(a)"}],"sanction":{"id":"topic:us:fmla-leave#sanction-1","text":"Lost wages and benefits plus equal liquidated damages, reinstatement and attorney fees.","cite":"29 U.S.C. 2617"},"compliance":["FMLA notice posted","Eligibility answer within 5 business days","Medical certification process","Health coverage continued","Return-to-work plan"]},"next_questions":[{"id":"topic:us:fmla-leave#q:who-qualifies-for-fmla","question_en":"Who qualifies for FMLA?","answer_en":"Employees who worked 12 months and 1,250 hours for an employer with 50 or more employees within 75 miles.","url":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/us/topic/fmla-leave/who-qualifies-for-fmla","leads_to":null},{"id":"topic:us:fmla-leave#q:is-fmla-leave-paid","question_en":"Is FMLA leave paid?","answer_en":"No, it is unpaid under federal law. 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