The Family and Medical Leave Act was created by the federal government, while the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) originated in the state of California. Both laws provide up to 12 weeks of protected leave for qualifying employees, but there are some distinct differences. For one, CFRA expands upon the definition of spouses when it comes to qualified caretaking leave by including domestic partners. It also excludes pregnancy as a serious health condition, which has historically been controversial. CFRA does not include any specific rules for military leave, unlike FMLA. Depending on the situation, an employee could leverage the benefits of both CFRA and FMLA to their advantage to extend their leave without fear of losing their position permanently.