PrintMassachusetts workers have three different laws to help balance the demands of work and life better. The laws give us the right to take time off from work:
- for the birth or adoption of a child,
- to take care of seriously ill family members,
- to recover from our own serious illnesses,
- or to take care of routine family responsibilities.
Each law covers different conditions and different employers.
- The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) gives covered workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for family and medical reasons. If you are a covered worker (see Does this law apply to me?) you might ask your employer for FMLA leave so you can care for:
- your newborn
- your newly adopted child
- a seriously ill family member, or
- yourself if you need to recover from a serious illness.
- The Massachusetts Maternity Leave Act (MMLA) allows covered female workers to take up to eight weeks following the birth or adoption of a child.
- The Small Necessities Leave Act (SNLA) allows covered workers to take up to 24 hours per year off from work to go to their child’s education-related school activities, or to accompany a child or elderly relative to medical or dental appointments.
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