THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT OF 1993 - HOW FULLY IS BUSINESS COMPLYING

This article examines compliance with the federal Family and Medical L eave Act (FMLA), based on a survey of primarily California employers c onducted three months after the implementation of the FMLA and nearly two years after passage of similar California legislation. Survey resu lts reveal that 40% of respondents were out of compliance with at leas t one of the four basic provisions of the FMLA: availability of at lea st 12 weeks of unpaid leave a year for all eligible employees with per sonal or family illness or a new child; continuation of health benefit s while on leave; restoration to the same or equivalent job; and notif ication of employees regarding their rights under the FMLA. Firms with fewer employees generally were least likely to be in compliance and h ad implemented fewer policy components related to the law's implementa tion.