New York's Kirsten Gillibrand recently led a group of eight senators in introducing a bill that would expand federal paid leave for federal employees to include 12 weeks of family and paid medical leave. Gillibrand, along with six other Democrats and Independent Bernie Sanders, are co-sponsoring the Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act. Currently, under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), employees in the private sector can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a newborn or an ill family member without fear of losing their jobs. For federal employees, family and medical leave continues to be unpaid. Gillibrand says the Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act will guarantee 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave for federal employees in all instances covered by the FMLA, including:
- In order to care for the spouse, child, or parent of the employee, if such spouse, child, or parent has a serious health condition.
- Because of a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the functions of the employee's position.
- Because of any qualifying exigency arising out of the fact that the spouse, child, or parent of the employee is on covered active duty (or has been notified of an impending call or order to covered active duty) in the Armed Forces.
