Eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in relation to childbirth or the placement of a child in adoption or foster care. This federal law provides up to 12 weeks of leave in any 12-month period, for qualifying reasons such as giving birth or treating a serious health condition.Congress enacted the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in 1993 to protect workers who need to take limited leaves of absence from their jobs. The Family and Federal leave Act allows you to take up to 12 unpaid weeks (three months) off work without the risk of losing your job. Is maternity leave sick leave or family care leave? The employer may consider and grant alternative sched- uling up to 12 weeks if the employee so requests. The FMLA entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons. It is up to the employer to determine how long the leave may be. Maternity leave is granted for six weeks after a normal delivery and eight weeks after a Cesarean "C" section, starting the day you deliver. It also prohibits employers from requiring that an employee stay out of work until the birth of her baby.