DOL Proposes Revision to FMLA Regulations
// Dallas, Texas, United States // Attorney Keith Clouse (Blog) // Keith Clouse
The Family and Medical Leave Act entitles certain employees to take unpaid, job-protected leave for medical or family reasons. The United States Department of Labor recently proposed a significant revision to the regulations that relate to the FMLA. This revision would enable individuals in same-sex marriages to enjoy the rights granted by the statute.
The Department of Labor proposed revising the definition of “spouse” as a response to the United States Supreme Court’s decision that a portion of the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional. The Department of Labor proposes this definition: Spouse, as defined in the statute, means a husband or wife. For purposes of this definition, husband or wife refers to the other person with whom an individual entered into marriage as defined or recognized under State law for purposes of marriage in the State in which the marriage was entered into or, in the case of a marriage entered into outside of any State, if the marriage is valid in the place where entered into and could have been entered into in at least one State. This definition includes an individual in a same-sex or common law marriage that either (1) was entered into in a State that recognizes such marriages or, (2) if entered into outside of any State, is valid in the place where entered into and could have been entered into in at least one State.
This article is presented by the Dallas employment lawyers at Clouse Dunn LLP. For inquiries, send an email to debra@clousedunn.com or call (214) 239-2705.
Contact Keith Clouse
KEITH A. CLOUSE
Clouse Dunn LLP
214.220.2722 214.220.3833 ( fax) keith@clousedunn.com
