# Plain Language Summary: Job Protection Act

This bill makes it easier for workers to take time off for medical and family reasons by lowering the barriers that currently exist. Right now, the Family and Medical Leave Act only applies to larger companies with at least 50 employees, and workers have to have been employed for 12 months before they can use it. This bill would change that so that any company with even just one employee would have to follow the law, and workers would only need to have worked there for 90 days instead of a full year to qualify for leave.

The practical effect is that millions of workers at small businesses would gain new protections they don't currently have. If you work at a small company with just a handful of employees, you'd now be able to take unpaid leave for things like having a baby, recovering from surgery, caring for a sick family member, or dealing with a serious health condition—and your employer couldn't fire you for it. You'd also get this protection much faster; instead of waiting a year to be eligible, you'd only need to be there for three months. The bill also updates the same rules for federal employees, including those who work for Congress and the President, making their eligibility requirements consistent with private sector workers.

For employers, especially small business owners, this represents a significant expansion of their obligations. They would need to comply with family and medical leave requirements regardless of how many people they employ. This could affect how small businesses manage staffing and scheduling, though the bill doesn't require employers to pay workers during their leave—it just requires them to allow the time off and protect the job.

Job Protection Act

Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]

Job Protection Act This bill reduces from 12 months to 90 days the employment period required for employees (including federal employees) to become eligible for family and medical leave. Additionally, the bill makes the family and medical leave requirements applicable to all employers (currently, the requirements apply to employers with 50 or more employees).