If your employer pays for a share of your health benefits, your employer must continue to make those payments while you are taking an unpaid leave. To be eligible to take the leave you must have worked for your employer for a least a year and you must have worked at least 1,250 hours during the year before the leave. Many employers have family-leave policies that are more flexible than the requirements outlined here. Some even provide for paid leave. You ll need to check your company s personnel policies.
Many workers confuse pregnancy-disability leave and family leave.
They are two separate laws with different requirements and specifications. However, many employees are eligible to combine both leaves after the birth of a child. Special rules about paid medical benefits apply if you are combining both leaves for a period longer than 12 weeks. Family leave is also available for a serious health condition affecting you, your child, your spouse or your parent. A serious health condition is an illness, injury, impairment or physical or mental condition that involves some kind of inpatient care or continuing treatment by a health-care provider.