Ellen McLaughlin Quoted in Employment Law 360
"DOL Expands Family Leave, Adds Worker Limits"

Ellen McLaughlin was quoted in Employment Law 360 on November 18, 2008 in the article, "DOL Expands Family Leave, Adds Worker Limits." The article reported on the new changes to the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which will go into effect January 17, 2009. The new rules expand the law's coverage of military families while imposing tighter restrictions on workers thus raising the ire of employee advocates.

Ellen noted that the new regulations are largely pro-employer, particularly with regard to the new requirement that employees give immediate notice of FMLA leave and new regulations allowing employers easier access to employee medical information. She further noted that although the new rules provide many benefits to employers, they will nonetheless require substantial changes in leave procedures and increase the administrative burden for businesses. She concluded that these changes will make FMLA leave administration “more costly and more involved” for employers.