Job Protection Act

The Job Protection Act (H.R. 694) seeks to expand access to unpaid, job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). If passed, the bill would reduce the amount of time a person must work for an employer to qualify for leave from 12 months to 90 days. Additionally, it would expand these protections to include employees of all businesses, regardless of size, whereas current law only applies to businesses with 50 or more employees.

For the average worker, this means they would be eligible to take time off for personal illness, the birth of a child, or to care for a sick family member much sooner after starting a new job. It also extends federal job security to millions of workers at small businesses who are currently excluded from FMLA protections. While the bill makes it easier to qualify for leave, it does not change the fact that FMLA leave is generally unpaid.