Nebraska Employee Rights Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that provides certain rights and protections for eligible employees in Nebraska and throughout the United States. It allows employees to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specific family and medical reasons. This law is designed to balance the demands of work and family responsibilities by providing employees with the opportunity to take time off when they need to care for themselves or their loved ones. In Nebraska, employees have the right to take FMLA leaves under the following circumstances: 1. Serious Health Condition: Employees can take FMLA leaves for their own serious health condition that makes them unable to perform their job. This may include illnesses, injuries, or conditions that require inpatient care, ongoing treatment, or chronic medical care. 2. Family Care: Employees can take FMLA leaves to care for their spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition. This includes both physical and mental health conditions that require care or treatment. 3. Maternity and Paternity Leave: FMLA allows eligible employees to take leave for the birth or adoption of a child. This includes time off for prenatal care, complications arising from pregnancy, and bonding with the newborn or newly adopted child. 4. Military Family Leave: Eligible employees can take FMLA leaves for specific reasons related to military service. This includes providing care for a family member injured while on active duty or to address certain issues arising from a family member's military deployment. Under the FMLA, eligible employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year. However, Nebraska state law provides additional benefits to employees, extending the leave duration to 26 weeks in a 12-month period for organ and bone marrow donation. To be eligible for FMLA leave in Nebraska, employees must meet certain criteria. They must have worked for their employer for at least 12 months (not necessarily consecutively) and have worked at least 1,250 hours during the previous 12-month period. Additionally, the employer must have at least 50 employees within a 75-mile radius of the employee's worksite. During FMLA leave, employers are required to maintain the employee's health benefits and provide job protection. Upon return, employees should be restored to their previous position or an equivalent one, with the same pay, benefits, and working conditions. Employees in Nebraska who believe their FMLA rights have been violated can seek recourse through the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission or the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. Overall, Nebraska employee rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act provide crucial protections and flexibility for employees to balance their work and personal life responsibilities. It ensures that employees can prioritize their health, their family's well-being, and military-related obligations without fear of losing their job or jeopardizing their benefits.