ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Regulations regarding the implementation of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) could be changed or updated this year. In December 2006, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) initiated the rulemaking process by publishing a Request for Information (RFI) in the Federal Register. In the RFI, DOL requested information to assist the department in evaluating current FMLA regulations and DOL’s administration of the law. A copy of DOL's FMLA notice is available online.

Many employers view compliance with current FMLA regulations as a great challenge in dealing with absenteeism in the workplace. The FMLA regulations have not been substantively amended since the original regulations were implemented in 1995. In the intervening years, employers have faced many difficult issues in attempting to properly implement the FMLA requirements, including administering the “intermittent leave” concepts and complying with the “serious health condition” requirements.

“NACS has viewed this start of the rulemaking process as a good opportunity to explain to the labor department the unique problems convenience store operators face in dealing with their workforce on this issue,” said NACS Senior Director of Government Relations Chris Tampio. “We hope that the labor department will rely on the information submitted during the RFI process to determine whether to proceed with the much-needed revisions of the FMLA regulations.” NACS comments (PDF) are available online.

Contact Tampio at ctampio@nacsonline.com for questions or comments regarding the FMLA.