May 14, 2009: Just four days before George Bush left office, the Department of Labor put new restrictions to the Family and Medical Leave Act into effect. Now a new bill would restore protections.

On April 29, Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) introduced the FMLA Restoration Act to roll back the changes made by Bush.

The Family and Medical Leave Act, a 1993 federal law, requires employers to allow eligible employees up to 12 weeks time off per year in the event of serious illnesses or medical conditions of the worker or his or her family.

The new rules make it harder for workers to take intermittent leave and let employers contact workers’ doctors without their consent. Click here to read a detailed report on the changes from pro-union attorney Robert Schwartz.

You can help win back stronger protections for workers who take time off to care for their families. Click here to contact your Congressional Representative and ask them to support the FMLA Restoration Act.