The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a U.S. law that allows eligible employees to take unpaid leave for specific family and medical reasons. This includes caring for a newborn, adopting a child, or addressing serious health conditions. Employees can take up to 12 weeks of leave in a 12-month period without losing their job or health insurance benefits. To qualify for FMLA, employees must work for a covered employer, such as a government agency or a private company with 50 or more employees. They must also have worked at least 1,250 hours in the past year.