Families and Employers in a Changing Economy In 1993, Congress passed the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA or the Act) to provide a national policy that supports families in their efforts to strike a work-able balance between the competing demands of the workplace and the home. These demands have intensified over the last 25 years, as the nation has experi-enced dramatic social and economic changes affecting businesses, employees and families alike. American businesses have confronted a …showed first 75 words of 1164 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1164 total… leave are short, most employees return to work and reduced turnover seems to be a tangible positive effect. The FMLA, with its signature features of guaranteed job protection and maintenance of health benefits, begins to emerge, even now, as a significant step in helping a larger cross-section of working Americans meet their medical and family caregiving needs while still maintaining their jobs and their economic security - achieving the workable balance intended by Congress.