LIKE SQUABBLING KIDS, companies and workers have argued over the Family and Medical Leave Act ever since the law was passed in 1993.
Business groups have filed legal challenges charging that the rules, which offer employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to attend to personal health problems are too permissive, allowing for abuse. Labor unions say such leaves are underused and essential to keep workers from losing their jobs if they need time off to have babies or care for seriously ill family members.
