Which leave policy provides 12 weeks of job-protected leave for medical and family reasons?

• A. Extended Disciplinary Leave
• B. Military Caregiver Leave
• C. Probationary Responder Leave
• D. Family and Medical Leave Act

Answer: (D)

The policy that provides up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave for medical and family reasons is the Family and Medical Leave Act. This act lets eligible employees take unpaid leave for certain family or medical circumstances—such as the employee’s serious health condition, caring for a spouse, child, or parent with a serious health condition, or the birth or placement of a child—while preserving their job and continuing group health benefits under the same terms. The key is that the leave is job-protected, and employers may require using accrued paid leave concurrently, but the period of leave itself is limited to 12 weeks in a rolling 12-month period for these qualifying reasons. Eligibility requirements include working for a covered employer, having at least 1,250 hours of service in the previous 12 months, and being employed for at least 12 months. Other leave options listed do not provide this standard 12-week, job-protected framework for medical and family reasons, though some may cover different scenarios or durations.