The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) gives qualified employees the opportunity to take unpaid leave for up to 12 weeks off during a 12-month period to care for themselves or family members. Intermittent leave means that an employee can take the given 12 weeks off in blocks, or on a reduced work schedule, rather than all at once. For instance, a qualified employee can take half a day off three days per week for cancer treatment. Any FMLA intermittent leave taken by the employee is deducted from the employee’s 12-week entitlement.