Michelle Obama, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis propose more job protection for military caregivers
Posted at 02:29 PM ET, 01/30/2012
Michelle Obama, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis propose more job protection for military caregivers
By Maggie Fazeli Fard
First lady Michelle Obama joined Labor Secretary Hilda Solis Monday to propose an expansion to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) that would give more job protection to military caregivers.
The proposed rules would allow spouses, parents and children of service members to care for their loved ones, attend military functions, or deal with child care and family finances “without fear of losing their jobs,”Solis said.
The expanded FMLA would include up to 12 weeks of leave from work to help a service member who has been deployed on short notice, as well as up to 26 weeks of leave to care for an injured or ill service member.
The proposed rules would also increase the number of days for rest and recuperation leave from five days to up to 15 days. This would enable caregivers to deal with the “unpredictability” of military life, Obama said.
more...http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/44/post/michelle-obama-labor-sec-hilda-solis-propose-more-job-protection-for-military-caregivers/2012/01/30/gIQAJEPtcQ_blog.html?wprss=44
pics from news.daylife.com
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 30: First lady Michelle Obama speaks about new proposed rules to help caregivers of wounded or injured service members, and veterans during a news conference at the Department of Labor on January 30, 2012 in Washington, DC. Mrs. Obama was joined by Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis in announcing new proposed rules to help caregivers of veteran and injured service members, giving them the ability to provide care for their loved ones need without fear of losing their jobs.
