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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219-8211.
U.S. Labor Secretary Robert B. Reich said today compliance
with the landmark Family and Medical Leave Act remains a simple issue for most
firms and few employees are finding difficulty working with their employees to
obtain the unpaid leave.
Reich testified today on the eve of the second anniversary
of President Clinton's signing of the legislation before a bi- partisan
commission established by Congress to monitor compliance with the law.
"On its second birthday, the FMLA has turned out to be a
happy and healthy toddler," Rich told the Family and Medical Leave Commission
during its third and final regional hearing in Washington.
"The Act is working -- for employers and employees," Reich
said. "Workers in this country no longer have to make agonizing choices between
receiving medical treatment or caring for seriously ill loved ones and keeping
their jobs. Businesses retain valuable, trained employees and employees are
happier and more productive when they do not fear losing jobs."
According to enforcement figures Reich released today, the
Department of labor's Wage ad Hour Division has successfully resolved 90% of
the 1,784 complaints it received that violated the law. Another 1,232
complaints were received that were not violations of the Act. The department
logged almost 250,000 calls and faxes for information about the Act.
The report also includes stat-by-state statistics that
show how many employers and workers are entitled to coverage under the Act. In
addition, the report includes data on the resolution of complaints in each
state.
The cases successfully resolved included granting FMLA
leave to 326 employees and restoring jobs for 704 workers. Monetary awards to
employees include:
- $89,970 to 126 employees for restoration of benefits;
- $665,285 to 224 employees for back wages without job restoration;
- $575,119 to 309 employees for job restoration with pay and benefits.
There are 181 unresolved violation cases, of which 167
involve job restoration. Since August 5, 1994, the Department has filed three
complaints in District Courts in Massachusetts, Michigan, and Texas. Two of the
three cases have been settled out of court.
"We are proud of our record in enforcing the Family and
Medical Leave Act," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment Standards
Bernard E. Anderson. "Our investigators have successfully resolved 90 percent
of the violations in the two years since the Act went into effect. We are also
proud of our vigorous outreach and education program which helps employers and
employees understand their rights and responsibilities under the Act."
The Act covers about 45 million employees in the private
sector and 15 million state and local government employees. It allows eligible
workers to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job- protected leave for specified
events such as the birth or adoption of a child, care of an immediate family
member with a serious health condition, or a serious health condition that
prevents and employee from doing his or her job.
Employers must continue to pay group health insurance for
employees on family and medical leave and allow them to return to the same or
equivalent job. FMLA is enforced by the labor Department's Wage and Hour
Division which has offices throughout the country.
The Commission on Family and Medical Leave's mandate is to
conduct a comprehensive study to assess the impact of family and temporary
medical leave policies, programs and practices on employers and employees. The
Commission, chaired by Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, was established
by Title III of the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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