FMLA Rights Expanded for Military Families

On October 28, 2009, President Obama signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2010, Pub. L. 111-84. Among other things, the NDAA expands certain provisions of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA). The FMLA was previously amended in January 2008 to provide military family leave for FMLA-eligible employees. However, those amendments limited the leave that was available. The NDAA is intended to expand leave options for military families. The provisions of the NDAA regarding FMLA leave were effective as of the date of the President’s signing, October 28, 2009