Family and Medical Leave Act
What happened
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a direct final rule to make technical changes to its FMLA regulations. This rule incorporates statutory amendments signed by Donald Trump. It clarifies that nearly all Federal civilian service and certain honorable active military service count towards FMLA eligibility. Additionally, it states that annual and sick leave provided outside of title 5, United States Code, can be substituted for unpaid FMLA leave, and excludes some Veterans Health Administration (VHA) employees from title 5 FMLA coverage.
Why it matters
This policy ensures that FMLA benefits are applied more broadly across federal service, making it easier for many federal employees to qualify. It also clarifies how different types of leave can be used, potentially offering more flexibility to federal workers. However, it also specifies certain exclusions for some VHA employees.
Who it affects
- ›Virtually all Federal civilian service employees
- ›Individuals with certain honorable active military service
- ›Federal employees using annual and sick leave
- ›Certain Veterans Health Administration (VHA) employees
The receipts are official. The summary is ours.
Read on Federal Register ↗Summaries are generated from the official text and may simplify or omit nuance. The official document is the source of truth.