President Bush recently signed into law significant amendments to the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. The amendments affect two categories of employees. The first includes spouses, parents, and children of individuals on active duty in the Armed Forces, National Guard or Reserves (or those who have been notified of an impending call to active duty) in support of a military action or operation. Under the amendments, these employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks of leave during a 12-month period for a “qualifying exigency” arising out of the active duty or call up. The revision does not define “qualifying exigency,” and this change does not take effect until the Secretary of Labor issues regulations on qualifying exigencies.

Effective March 24, 2008, the Ohio Civil Rights Act will add “military status” as a protected class along with race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, and age under Ohio Revised Code § 4112.02, pursuant to 127th Generally Assembly Substitute House Bill Number 372.