Federal Family Leave (FMLA) The Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides up to 12 weeks of leave to employees who have worked for their employer for at least one year and who worked at least 1250 hours in the previous 12- month period. FMLA can be used for family care reasons, which are the birth of a child, to care for the newborn child, for the placement of a child with the employee for adoption or foster care, to care for a family member (spouse/domestic partner, child, parent), to attend to urgent needs resulting from an employee’s spouse, child, or parent being called for military active duty, or because the employee’s own serious health condition renders him or her unable to perform the functions of the job. Both the FMLA and the FLA (see below) provide that health benefits must be maintained during any period of unpaid leave under the same conditions as if the employee continued to work and the employee must be reinstated to the same or an equivalent job with the same pay, benefits, and terms and conditions of employment on return from leave. For more information please see the attached FMLA/FLA Quick Guidance for Managers and Supervisors. New Jersey State Family Leave (FLA) Most employees who have worked for their employer for at least one year and who worked at least 1000 hours in the previous 12-month period are entitled to a family leave of 12 weeks in a 24-month period. The leave may be taken consecutively, intermittently, or on a reduced work schedule (only with the agreement of the senior manager) within one year of the birth or placement of a child for adoption or for the serious health condition of an immediate family member of the employee (spouse/domestic partner, child, parent or parent- in-law). For more information please see the attached FMLA/FLA Quick Guidance for Managers and Supervisors. Family Leave Insurance (FLI) The Family Leave Insurance benefit began on July1, 2009. FLI provides up to six weeks of benefits within a 12-month period for covered Judiciary employees to care for a family member (child, spouse, domestic or civil union partner, or parent of a covered employee) incapable of self-care, or to bond with a newborn or newly adopted child. Certification of a serious health condition is required for an FLI claim. FLI may be taken intermittently for up to 42 days to care for a family member. Absence for care-giving claims must be taken in increments of one full day. Absence for bonding claims must be for at least one week at a time (seven calendar days/five business days). The purpose of the FLI benefit is to provide temporary, partial wage replacement for a limited period of time. Employees may be reimbursed for two-thirds of their weekly pay up to a cap, which is subject to change annually. A Judiciary employee who wants to receive FLI benefits must: (a) Complete the FL-1 application for Family Leave Insurance benefits in accord with the instructions for filing and submitting a claim as indicated on the FL-1. This form requires medical certification by a legally licensed health care provider. (b) Utilize 2 weeks (10 days) of available paid sick time for claims related to care of a seriously ill family member. If the employee has a sick leave balance of fewer than 10 days, (s)he will be required to exhaust all available sick days to establish eligibility for FLI benefits. (c) Utilize 2 weeks (10 days) of available paid vacation time for claims related to bonding with a newborn or newly adopted child. If the employee has a vacation balance of fewer than 10 days, (s)he will be required to exhaust all available vacation days to establish eligibility for FLI benefits. 12