Federal Employee Family Friendly Leave Act

Federal employees are eligible for up to 104 hours of leave.

Made effective in 1994, the Federal Employee's Family Friendly Leave Act allows federal employees to take time off in instances of medical need or death of family members. Similar to existing legislation, the FEFFLA increases the amount of leave time employees may use under certain circumstances.

History

In 1994, Congress expanded existing employee leave policies regarding family medical needs or death. Like the Family Medical Leave Act, the FEFFLA was designed to allow federal workers paid time off to provide care for an ailing family member or attend funeral services. Congress instituted a three-year trial period for expanded legislation. In 1997, at the end of the trial period, the Office of Personnel Management issued the legislation in its final form.

Function

The FEFFLA allows employees to use up to 104 hours, or 13 workdays, of each calendar year to provide care for family members with serious medical conditions or in situations involving the attendance or planning of funerals. This is paid leave assuming the employee has accrued sufficient sick leave.

Types

There are three basic conditions which allow the employee to use the leave. They may use the leave to provide care for an incapacitated family member in cases of pregnancy, childbirth, mental or physical illness or injury. The leave may be used to provide care for a family member as needed following optical, dental or medical examination or treatment. Employees may also take time off to attend or make arrangements for funeral services.

Specifics

The maximum amount of paid leave time available is 104 hours. Full time employees may use 40 hours (5 days) of leave regardless of their available sick leave. If the employee maintains a balance of 80 hours in their sick leave account, an additional 64 hours, or 8 days, of leave may be taken.

Considerations

The definition of family members is important to consider. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, Administrative and Financial Management department, family members include parents, children and spouses. Also included are adopted children and their spouses, siblings and their spouses and "any individual related by blood or affinity whose close association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship."

References

• National Treasury Employees Union: Family & Medical Leave Policies
• Office of Personnel Management: Family Friendly Leave Policies
• United States Department of Agriculture: Pay & Leave