Hey, Eldercare givers: Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) isn’t just for mothers and babies!

I previously noted that

About 3 in 10 caregivers who are also working have experienced adverse reactions from their employers because of their caregiving duties.

Also,

41% of caregivers have reduced their work hours or changed their schedule/shift to provide care

13% have resigned their jobs to provide care

9% have changed jobs or careers to provide care

Said Williams-Kemp: “The time-sensitive nature of caregiving is somewhat unexpected for caregivers, especially boomers who can find their careers interrupted pretty significantly.”

Usually when we hear FMLA, we think pregnancy; however,

“People often assume the law only applies to moms and babies, but the most common use is to deal with your own health issue,” says Vicki Shabo, vice president for workplace policies and strategies at the National Partnership for Women & Families. In fact, more than half of the employees who took a leave over a 12-month period used the time to manage their own illness, according to a Department of Labor survey. The second most common reason was to care for a new child (cited by 21%); 18% needed time off to help a parent, spouse or child with health problems.

But it does not apply your mother-in-law and father-in-law, brother, sister, grandmother, grandfather or adult child either.

That’s because the law narrowly defines “family” as a spouse, parent or child under 18.