Leave laws are trending across the nation and are updated regularly. It can be challenging to keep up with these changes and how regulations intersect at the federal and state level, let alone municipal and regional laws that may come into play. Staying compliant can be confusing as information found online quickly becomes outdated, irrelevant to your jurisdiction, or simply incorrect. We reached out to our clients and various leave specialists for their recommendations and compiled this helpful list of reputable resources with valuable information on leave compliance.
1. U.S. Department of Labor
Family and Medical Leave Act section
Navigating the nuances of the FMLA can be confusing — and mistakes can be costly. This page from the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division should be your first stop for any questions about the FMLA.
There is a regularly updated page with fact sheets on all aspects of the law and pages with resources for employers, like printable posters and interactive tools. It even has a page with model versions of forms employers may want to use in creating their organization’s leave process.
2. SHRM
Family and Medical Leave Act section
Do you have a specific question about federal or state leave laws and management? If you cannot find the answer you need on the DOL site, SHRM is the place to look.
SHRM is the nation’s leading professional human resources membership association and is an essential resource for all aspects of employment law and compliance. Its FMLA page offers up-to-date information and answers to specific questions from employers. It also provides valuable toolkits on how to manage leave.
Membership in SHRM is required to access these materials.
3. XpertHR
Leave laws by state and municipality
In this age of remote work, many companies and HR professionals need help to keep up with which state and municipal laws apply to their organizations and employees. Making sense of the many unique and sometimes contradictory regulations can be challenging if your team is spread across multiple states.
This XpertHR page can help. It has a straightforward chart showing the types of leave laws in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 29 counties and municipalities. It includes more than a dozen categories of leave — not just family and medical, but also for jury duty, school activities, voting, and more.
The chart keeps it simple for quick reference but includes links to more detailed information on the finer points of many of the laws.
4. Job Accommodation Network
An employers’ guide to reasonable accommodations under the ADA
Do you have questions about workplace accommodations? If your organization needs clarification on when they must offer accommodations or how to provide them, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy’s Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the place to go for answers.
JAN outlines some of the most common issues employers face regarding accommodations and offers practical guidance on resolving them. It is also a clearinghouse for the latest data and research on disability employment.
5. DMEC
Disability Management Employer Coalition
The Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) is a non-profit organization that aims to promote and advance disability management practices and strategies in the workplace. The organization provides education, resources, and networking opportunities to professionals responsible for managing disability, absence, and productivity issues within their organizations.
DMEC was founded in 1992 and has since grown into a leading organization in disability management. The organization has over 3,300 members, including employers, insurance carriers, third-party administrators, and other professionals involved in disability management.
DMEC offers a variety of resources and services to its members, including conferences, webinars, publications, and online resources. The organization also conducts research on disability management trends and best practices and provides training and certification programs for disability management professionals.
