The Arizona Employee Rights Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that protects eligible employees' rights to take unpaid leave for specific family and medical reasons. The FMLA applies to private sector employers with 50 or more employees, and to all public agencies, including local, state, and federal employers. Under the FMLA, eligible employees are entitled to take up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave in a 12-month period. This leave can be taken for various reasons, including: 1. The birth and care of a newborn child 2. Placement of a child for adoption or foster care 3. To care for a spouse, child, or parent with a serious health condition 4. When the employee is unable to work due to their own serious health condition 5. In the case of qualifying exigencies arising out of the fact that the employee's spouse, child, or parent is a covered military member on active duty It is crucial to understand that the FMLA provides protection for Arizona employees by allowing them to take this leave without fear of losing their jobs or facing discrimination. Employers must maintain the employee's health benefits during their leave and reinstate them to the same or a comparable position upon their return. In addition to the federal FMLA protections, Arizona has specific provisions that further enhance employee rights. The Arizona FMLA, known as the Arizona Parental Leave Act (APA), provides additional unpaid leave for eligible employees. This state law allows eligible employees to take an additional 12 weeks of unpaid leave for purposes related to the birth or adoption of a child, after exhausting their 12 weeks of federal FMLA leave entitlement. To be eligible for leave under the APA, an employee must have worked for the employer for at least one year and have worked at least 1,250 hours in the 12-month period preceding the leave request. It is important to note that the APA only applies to employers with 20 or more employees within a 75-mile radius. In summary, the Arizona Employee Rights Under the Family and Medical Leave Act aim to protect eligible employees' rights to take unpaid leave for family and medical reasons. The federal FMLA provides up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave while the state-specific Arizona Parental Leave Act grants an additional 12 weeks for qualifying birth or adoption circumstances. These laws ensure that employees can prioritize their family's well-being without jeopardizing their employment status or benefits.
Para su conveniencia, debajo del texto en español le brindamos la versión completa de este formulario en inglés. For your convenience, the complete English version of this form is attached below the Spanish version.