Legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate that would amend the Family and Medical Leave Act to give parents grieving the death of their child as many as 12 weeks of job-protected leave. Currently, the FMLA allows parents extended, unpaid time off to care for newborn babies, adopted children and family members with serious health conditions.
Sign this bill to show your support for this legislation.
“I, the undersigned, support the Parental Bereavement Act of 2011 (S 1358) (also known as The Farley-Kluger Amendment). This amendment to the FMLA will expand coverage and existing benefits to employees that have experienced the death of a child.
I have included the following to give you a brief overview of the existing Family Medical Leave Act and its benefits:
The FMLA applies to all public agencies, all public and private elementary and secondary schools, and companies with 50 or more employees. These employers must provide an eligible employee with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year for any of the following reasons:
For the birth and care of a newborn child; * for placement with the employee of a child for adoption or foster care; * to care for an immediate family member with a serious health condition; * to take medical leave because of a serious health condition; or * to care for an injured service member in the family
Employees are eligible for leave if they have worked for their employer at least 12 months, at least 1,250 hours over the past 12 months, and work at a location where the company employs 50 or more employees within 75 miles.
It is my opinion that the death of a child is one of the worst experiences that anyone can endure. I find it unacceptable that the death of a child is not included as a protected reason to qualify for the benefits that are set forth in the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993.
As your constituent, I encourage you to give this issue serious consideration and to make the necessary modification to the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993.
I support Senator Jon Tester, Kelly Farley, Founder of the Grieving Dads Project (www.GrievingDads.com) and Barry Kluger, Author and grieving father in their efforts to make this necessary change to the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993.”
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