Have you ever applied for family or medical leave?

Twenty years ago today President Clinton signed the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) into law, granting 12 weeks of job protection to workers recovering from an accident, tending to a sick loved one or caring for a new baby. Yet nearly half of U.S. workers aren't covered under the law -- usually because they work part-time or because their employer has less than 50 employees.

Have you ever applied for family or medical leave? Tell us about your experience. If the law doesn't apply to you, tell us how that has affected your work and family life.

* indicates required field

First Name *

Last Name *

E-mail *

City

State or Province

Postal Code *

Country

Phone

What do you do for work?

For whom do you work (who is your employer)?

Have you ever applied for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act? *

Yes
No
I'm not sure

If you answered yes, please tell us about what prompted your leave (the birth of a child, a loved one's illness, etc). If you answered no, please tell us why not (you've never had the need, your job is not covered under the law, etc.).

In your experience, is the FMLA sufficient in providing the protection needed to care for yourself and your family? Why or why not?

What, if any, impact did your leave have on your finances or professional life?

If you're an employer, how, if at all, do the protections granted by the Family and Medical Leave Act affect you and your company?

Is there anything else you'd like to share about this topic?

If you have an original photo that helps illustrate what you described above, or just of yourself, please upload it here. (No larger than 10MB, please.)

Tell us a little about the photo: name(s), date, location, and the story behind it.

May we publish your insights (and any uploaded files) and attribute them to you? Your comments may be edited for length or clarity. If you choose "no", or "contact me first", your comments will of course be completely confidential. *

sure
no thanks
contact me first

I have a few more questions that help us better understand your perspective, and allow me to include people of a variety of backgrounds in our stories.

In what year were you born?

Which of these best describes your education level?

Which of the following best describes your household income?

Thanks you for your time. If you have any questions about this or any of our projects, please email me at abrody@americanpublicmedia.org.

Your Information

By completing this form, you become part of American Public Media's Public Insight Network (PIN). American Public Media and any other PIN newsroom listed on this form may contact you for help with current and future news coverage.

This submission may be shared with journalists at American Public Media and other news organizations collaborating on reporting. It will not be used for marketing or fundraising purposes, and we will never quote you without first getting your explicit permission.

If you give us permission to publish your submission, we may edit before sharing it on-air, in print or online. We reserve the right to reuse or republish your submission, or to withhold your submission from publication. You must be 13 years or older to provide a submission.

About the Public Insight Network

Founded in 2003, American Public Media's Public Insight Network is a platform for connecting trusted journalists with knowledgeable sources and for fostering journalistic excellence, innovation and collaboration. Learn more »

Through American Public Media, you may have opportunities to also inform reporting for Marketplace, Marketplace Money, On Being, American RadioWorks and other partner newsrooms.