§ 2601 TITLE 29—LABOR Page 778

(Pub. L. 102–530, §10, Oct. 27, 1992, 106 Stat. 3468.)

CHAPTER 28—FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE

Sec.

2601. Findings and purposes.

(a) Findings.

(b) Purposes.

SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR

LEAVE

2611. Definitions.

2612. Leave requirement.

(a) In general.

(b) Leave taken intermittently or on reduced leave schedule.

(c) Unpaid leave permitted.

(d) Relationship to paid leave.

(e) Foreseeable leave.

(f) Spouses employed by same employer.

2613. Certification.

(a) In general.

(b) Sufficient certification.

(c) Second opinion.

(d) Resolution of conflicting opinions.

(e) Subsequent recertification.

2614. Employment and benefits protection.

(a) Restoration to position.

(b) Exemption concerning certain highly

compensated employees.

(c) Maintenance of health benefits.

2615. Prohibited acts.

(a) Interference with rights.

(b) Interference with proceedings or inquiries.

2616. Investigative authority.

(a) In general.

(b) Obligation to keep and preserve

records.

(c) Required submissions generally limited to annual basis.

(d) Subpoena powers.

2617. Enforcement.

(a) Civil action by employees.

(b) Action by Secretary.

(c) Limitation.

(d) Action for injunction by Secretary.

(e) Solicitor of Labor.

(f) General Accounting Office and Library of Congress.

2618. Special rules concerning employees of local

educational agencies.

(a) Application.

(b) Leave does not violate certain other

Federal laws.

(c) Intermittent leave or leave on reduced schedule for instructional

employees.

(d) Rules applicable to periods near conclusion of academic term.

(e) Restoration to equivalent employment position.

(f) Reduction of amount of liability.

2619. Notice.

(a) In general.

(b) Penalty.

SUBCHAPTER II—COMMISSION ON LEAVE

2631. Establishment.

2632. Duties.

2633. Membership.

(a) Composition.

(b) Vacancies.

(c) Chairperson and vice chairperson.

(d) Quorum.

2634. Compensation.

(a) Pay.

(b) Travel expenses.

2635. Powers.

(a) Meetings.

Sec.

(b) Hearings and sessions.

(c) Access to information.

(d) Use of facilities and services.

(e) Personnel from other agencies.

(f) Voluntary service.

2636. Termination.

SUBCHAPTER III—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

2651. Effect on other laws.

(a) Federal and State antidiscrimination

laws.

(b) State and local laws.

2652. Effect on existing employment benefits.

(a) More protective.

(b) Less protective.

2653. Encouragement of more generous leave policies.

2654. Regulations.

CHAPTER REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS

This chapter is referred to in title 3 sections 412, 415.

§ 2601. Findings and purposes

(a) Findings

Congress finds that—

(1) the number of single-parent households

and two-parent households in which the single

parent or both parents work is increasing significantly;

(2) it is important for the development of

children and the family unit that fathers and

mothers be able to participate in early childrearing and the care of family members who

have serious health conditions;

(3) the lack of employment policies to accommodate working parents can force individuals to choose between job security and

parenting;

(4) there is inadequate job security for employees who have serious health conditions

that prevent them from working for temporary periods;

(5) due to the nature of the roles of men and

women in our society, the primary responsibility for family caretaking often falls on

women, and such responsibility affects the

working lives of women more than it affects

the working lives of men; and

(6) employment standards that apply to one

gender only have serious potential for encouraging employers to discriminate against employees and applicants for employment who

are of that gender.

(b) Purposes

It is the purpose of this Act—

(1) to balance the demands of the workplace

with the needs of families, to promote the stability and economic security of families, and

to promote national interests in preserving

family integrity;

(2) to entitle employees to take reasonable

leave for medical reasons, for the birth or

adoption of a child, and for the care of a child,

spouse, or parent who has a serious health

condition;

(3) to accomplish the purposes described in

paragraphs (1) and (2) in a manner that accommodates the legitimate interests of employers;

(4) to accomplish the purposes described in

paragraphs (1) and (2) in a manner that, consistent with the Equal Protection Clause of