10.2190/Q506-R037-3740-M701 Q506R0373740M701 4 Navigating the Land Mines of the Family and Medical Leave Act 151 163 20070402 20070402 20070402 20070402 Q506R0373740M701.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=Q506R0373740M701 2 Jeffrey A. Mello Barry University The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was passed with good intentions by both those who opposed and those who supported the act. But in recent years, supporters and critics alike have been critical of the act's ability to achieve its original objectives. This article identifies a number of areas of the FMLA that have presented problems to employers, employees, and policymakers and then introduces a new issue that has recently arisen in the courts; namely, whether the "hours of service" eligibility requirement for employees requires hours actually engaged in physical work. Recommendations for addressing these controversies are also provided. Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, <b>29</b> U.S.C. 2001 <i>et. seq.</i> G. Harbison, FMLA Is Serious Business, <i>Industrial Management</i>, <b>46</b>(4), pp. 28-31, 2004. M.-K. Zachary, Restrictions May Apply to FMLA Leave, <i>Supervision</i>, <b>65</b>(11), pp. 22-25, 2004. J. Reinberg, Ongoing Challenges for Today's Employers, <i>Employee Benefit Plan Review</i>, <b>58</b>(8), pp. 7-10, 2004. S. Hengst and B. H. Kleiner, Implications of the Family and Medical Leave Act for Organizations, <i>Managerial Law</i>, <b>44</b>(1-2), pp. 9-16, 2002. U.S. Department of Labor, <i>Families and Employers In A Changing Economy</i>, <b>5</b>, p. 1, 2002. Available at: <a target="_blank" href='http://www.do1.gov/esa/regs/compliance/whd/fmla/summary.htm'>http://www.do1.gov/esa/regs/compliance/whd/fmla/summary.htm</a> E. Daniel, Family and Medical Leave Act Reform: Is Paid Leave the Answer? <i>Cleveland State Law Review</i>, <b>57</b>, pp. 65-92, 2004. <i>Knussman v. Maryland</i>, 272 F.3d 625 (4th Cir. 2001). P. Bruen and C. Grebowski, The Evolving Terrain of Family Medical Leave Management, <i>Compensation and Benefits Management</i>, <b>18</b>(1), pp. 1-5, 2002. S. Schaefer Munoz, Leadership (A Special Report): A good Idea, But … : Some Businesses Complain that the Family and Medical Leave Act Should Be More Aptly Named the Slackers Protection Act, <i>Wall Street Journal</i>, p. R6, January 24, 2005. R. J. Andrykovitch and J. A. VanDoren, Family and Medical Act's Real Impact, <i>Getting Results for the Hands-On Manager</i>, <b>42</b>(1), p. 7, 1997. M. Zall, The Family and Medical Leave Act: An Employer's Perspective, <i>Strategic Finance</i>, <b>81</b>(8), pp. 46-51, 2000. <i>Plumley v. Southern Container</i>, 303 F.3d 364 (1st Cir. 2002). Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. §207(e). <i>Ricco v. Potter</i>, 377 F.3d 599 (6th Cir. 2004). R. R. Cockey The Family and Medical Leave Act: What You See and What You Get, <i>American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy and Law</i>, <b>12</b>, pp. 1-18, 2003. Anonymous, Top Legal Issue to Watch This Year, <i>HR Focus</i>, <b>82</b>(3), p. 2, 2005.