The Family and Medical Leave Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq. (“FMLA”) is a United States labor law requiring covered employers to provide employees with job-protected, unpaid leave for qualified medical and family reasons. FMLA allows eligible employees to take up to 12 work weeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period to care for a new child, care for a seriously ill family member, or recover from a serious illness.