Regulations governing the first changes to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in 15 years take effect Friday, January 16. The FMLA amendments, which provide for military caregiver leave and qualifying exigency leave, were introduced as part of the fiscal year 2008 Defense Authorization Act. The final rule governing how these amendments impact the FMLA was issued last November.

In addition to defining what constitutes a “military exigency,” the regulations clarify, among other things, who is eligible to take military leave, and provide guidance on how to process leave requests. Employers are encouraged to review and update their leave policies to ensure compliance with the new regulations. To aid employers, the DOL has posted a revised FMLA poster and other compliance materials on its website.

For more detailed information on these FMLA regulations and how they will impact employers, see Littler’s ASAPs: Relief in Sight? DOL Issues Final FMLA Regulations by Rod. M. Fliegel, Peter A. Susser, Gina M. Chang, Alexis C. Knapp, and Jeffrey J. Sun, and Department of Labor Clarifies FMLA Amendments Related to Servicemember Care and Other Military-Related Exigencies by David M. Jaffe, Todd K. Boyer, and Michele Z. Stevenson.