States Without General Laws for Family and Medical Leave

The majority of states do not currently have their own general family and medical leave laws. In states without these laws, or that only have laws that apply to specific, narrow segments of the work force, the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) applies to all other qualifying employers and employees. One key thing for employees to remember is that they have no obligation to specify the law under which they are requesting leave. Employers must apply the law which provides the most coverage for the employee under the circumstances.

For helpful information on how the FMLA works in these states, below are some links to general resources on the FMLA, or you can return to the state map page for information on more states' medical and family leave laws:

General FMLA Information:

• Family and Medical Leave: Overview
• Rights and Responsibilities Under the Family and Medical Leave Act
• FMLA Leave Law: In-Depth
• Family and Medical Leave Act FAQ

FMLA Notice Requirements, Certification Forms and Returning to Work:

• Notice Requirements for Employers
• Notice Requirements for Employees
• Medical Certification under the FMLA
• Return to Work Under the FMLA: Fitness for Duty Certification