AP: Dodd defends Family and Medical Leave Act
une 26, 2007
Washington-AP) _ Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd is defending the Family and Medical Leave Act that he wrote, following a new report that says it's causing problems for some industries.
The federal Labor Department says it's working well overall, but is affecting some businesses that say too many employees are taking intermittent, unscheduled time off.
The report, to be made public tomorrow, is based on a review of 15,000-comments on the 14-year-old law. It says that the act is working as intended in the vast majority of cases, and has given the 76-million eligible workers leave for the birth or adoption of a child or to take care of family members with serious health conditions.
Dodd says he will review the report, but says research has repeatedly shown that the Family and Medical Leave Act is a sound policy that benefits both employees and employers.
The Labor Department said the comments revealed that people with chronic health problems are taking unscheduled intermittent leave that some companies say is disruptive.