Under which Act can employees take unpaid leave for family or health reasons?

The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is the legislation that allows employees to take unpaid leave for family or health-related reasons. Under this act, eligible employees are entitled to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year for specific family and medical reasons, including the birth of a child, adoption, caring for a seriously ill family member, or dealing with their own health issues. This law was enacted to provide employees with the opportunity to attend to important personal and family health matters without the risk of losing their job or health insurance coverage during their leave.

In contrast, the other acts do not provide for unpaid leave in the same manner. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) primarily governs the management of employee benefit plans and does not directly address employee leave. The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) focuses on workplace safety and health regulations rather than leave provisions. Lastly, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) deals with minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor laws, not employee leave rights. Therefore, FMLA is the correct and relevant act for employees seeking unpaid leave for family or health reasons.