Family Medical Leave

We have been contacted by readers who want to learn more about Family Medical Leave, and what the difference is between that and the Family Medical Leave Act. As always, you are encouraged to contact your Local AFA Office, as well as your supervisor with questions.

Latest Info Added

Family Medical Leave Article (AFA) (Mar 27)
Section 23.M. of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, permits Flight Attendants the FML benefits to balance their work and family life by taking paid/unpaid leave for certain family and medical reasons. Full article >

What posting requirements does FMLA place on employers?
Every employer covered by the FMLA is required to post and keep posted on its premises, in conspicuous places where employees are employed, whether or not it has any "eligible" employees, a notice explaining the Act's provisions and providing information concerning the procedures for filing complaints of violations of the Act with the Wage and Hour Division. Full list of requirements >

Difference between FMLA and FML

We have wanted to add information about this subject to the site for a long time. We get a lot of electronic mail about the Family Medical Leave Act, and most of it has been dumped into the READ-LATER-WHEN-NOT-UP-TO-OUR-EYEBALLS-IN-OTHER-WORK folder. Sorry about that. Only so many seconds in a day.

Okay, first off, let's cut through the confusion about the terms. You need to remember the following very important distinction:

FMLA. This stands for Federal Family Medical Leave Act. The U.S. Department of Labor administers and enforces the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for all private, state and local government employees, and some federal employees.
Official info >
Read the actual Act >
Family Medical Leave Act Packet (146 KB - 6 pages)
United's information about this Act.
FML. This stands for Family Medical Leave of Absence and is a United Airlines-specific program. They have a cute little packet for this information in the domiciles. Sometimes it also goes by the cutesy name of FMLOA.
Family Medical LOA Packet (142 KB - 7 pages)

Section M. Family Medical Leave
AFA Information >

These two family medical leave programs with almost identical acronyms are confusing as hell, but you've got to understand the difference between the two terms before anything else.

Again, FMLA is a Federal Government program, FML is a United Airlines-specific program (like, say RET or IST or whatever).

Ken Kyle's Resources

Mr. Ken Kyle, DENSW has agreed to assist us in answering site questions on this subject.

His contact information:

Phone: (303) 894-9044
Cell Phone: (303) 913-6978
Email: khkyle@juno.com

He is very passionate about making sure that United Airlines flight attendants understand the difference between the Family Medical Leave Act and FML, and has indicated that you can contact him at anytime. He'll definitely talk your ear off on the importance of understanding the differences between FMLA and FML. Greets and thanks go out to Ken for offering to help us in this area!

Remember, of course, that Ken is not an "official" source of Family Medical Leave Act information, and neither are we. You are highly encouraged to consult your Local AFA Council and supervisor as well with questions about FMLA and FML.

Some of the official sources on the United Airlines-specific plan (FML) appear below: