Plan would let caregivers take more job leave - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Plan would let caregivers take more job leave

The Obama administration announced a proposal Monday to expand the Family and Medical Leave Act to provide better coverage for those who care for injured or ill veterans.

Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said the changes would allow eligible caregivers to take up to 26 work weeks of job-protected, unpaid leave to care for seriously wounded or injured veterans for up to five years after they leave the military.

The rules also would broaden exigency leave — an allowable absence of up to 12 work weeks by an active-duty family member for reasons related to a service member’s deployment, such as attending military-sponsored functions and making child care and financial arrangements.

The 26 weeks of leave are now available only to families of active-duty personnel and the exigency leave only to National Guard and Reserve families.

The Family and Medical Leave Act, enacted in 1993, grants leave for up to 12 work weeks within a 12-month period for employees who have a baby or adopt, have a serious illness, or must care for an ill or injured family member.

It was expanded in 2008 to provide broader and longer coverage for military families. The latest changes will help even more military families, first lady Michelle Obama said at the announcement.

The law defines “caregivers” as spouses, children or parents or next of kin of an eligible service member or veteran with a serious injury or illness. It applies to private-sector employers with 50 or more employees, as well as public agencies including schools, for full-time employees with at least a year on the job.

On hand to support the announcement were the Joint Chiefs, the service secretaries and a number of wounded service members and their families.

Geri Darlington, mother of Army Spc. James Darlington, 21, said she left her customer service job in Milton, Del., to care for her son after he was injured in a rocket-propelled grenade attack.

She initially took a leave of absence but eventually had to choose between supporting her son and working. “It wasn’t enough time,” she said, “I think this is a great opportunity for families to spend more time taking care of their soldiers.”

Other service members’ families said they welcomed the changes but expressed hope that the proposals were simply the start of a dialogue for broader change.

Sarah Wade, 36, of Chapel Hill, N.C., has been unable to work full time since her husband, Ted, was injured by a roadside bomb in 2004. He lost his right arm and suffered a traumatic brain injury.

She said she is starting to see a change in his health, mainly as a result of degenerative conditions related to his injuries, which will continue to affect her ability to hold a job.

“My hope is that this announcement today will be the start of a discussion on long-term help for military families. So many issues need to be raised,” she said.