House Dem proposes 12 weeks of work leave to mourn death of a child

Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday said he would soon introduce legislation that would amend the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to give people up to 12 weeks off from work in the case of a child's death.

Israel said current law already allows people to take time off to attend the birth of a child or to care for a sick family member. But he said workers should also get time off when their son or daughter dies, and said they should be able to have this time away without fear of losing their job.

"It is unacceptable that parents coping with the loss of a child cannot use FMLA leave to grieve for their loss," Israel said. "Today I'm calling for this to be amended so parents can take the time they need, knowing that their job will be protected.

"Parents should not have to decide between their job and taking the proper time needed for both themselves and the rest of their family."

Israel's bill is being supported by Matt Weippert, who founded the Sarah Grace Foundation to help children fighting cancer. Weippert said he was faced with having to return to work just five days after burying his daughter, which he said was "devastating both emotionally and physically."

Israel said he would soon introduce a bill to make the change, and would call it the Sarah Grace Act to amend the FMLA. Under his bill, people would qualify for up to 12 weeks of time off if they have worked in the same job for at least 12 months, worked at least 1,250 hours in the 12 months prior to taking leave, and are employed at a site that has 50 or more employees within 75 miles of that site.

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