The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 provides eligible employees the right to take unpaid, job protected leave for a specific family or medical reasons. An eligible employee is granted up to 12 workweeks of leave as long as the reason provided is covered by FMLA policy. An eligible eployee may also take up to 26 workweeks of leave if he/she needs to take care of a covered service member who has serious illness or injury.