Balancing family and work can be very difficult at times. At some point in our lives, each of us will need to take a break from work to deal with family issues. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 was created to help employees balance the demanding demands of work and home. This law allows eligible workers who need time off for personal reasons or family emergencies up to twelve weeks of unpaid leave. During the 1992 presidential campaign, Governor Bill Clinton promoted the implementation of a law that would grant families temporary medical leave under certain circumstances. He pushed for a change in labor law that would protect workers caring for their families. Once elected to office, he made the Family Medical Leave Act a top legislative priority. The 103rd United States Congress enacted FMLA. Bill Clinton signed the bill on February 5, 1993, and it went into effect six months later on August 5, 1993 (Advantages). The Family and Medical Leave Act is administered by the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor. The FMLA was passed to help families in times of crisis so that individuals do not have to choose between work and personal responsibilities. Eligible employees may take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons. Leave can last up to twelve working weeks in a twelve month period. Reasons for leave include: pregnancy, prenatal complications, adoption/foster care of a child, hospitalization, caring for an immediate family member, or a health condition that renders the employee unable to perform their job (Solis). This law applies to any employer who “carries on commercial activities”... at the heart of the document... Cited Eitzen, Wells, Zinn. “Family politics for the twenty-first century”. Diversity in families. 8th ed. Boston: Pearson Education, 2008. Print. “The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).” Fmlaonline.co. Network. July 26, 2011.Solis, Hilda L. “Health Benefits, Pension Standards, and Workers' Compensation: Family and Medical Leave.” United States Department of Labor. September 2009. Web. July 27, 2011. "What are the advantages and disadvantages of FMLA?" eHow. 2011. Network. July 27, 2011. “What Is the Purpose of the Family and Medical Leave Act?” LawInfo. nd Web. 26 July 2011.fmla/Federal/what-is-the-scopo-of-the-family-and-medical.html