For work-life balance, Small Necessities Act can make a big difference

Small Necessities Act eases stress on the sandwich generation.

Boston area members of the sandwich generation, pressed between the demands of child rearing and elder care, are feeling the time-crunch stress that accompanies tough choices between work and family priorities. Taking mom to see her doctor can mean missing a half-day of work.  Showing up for a daughter’s geography bee can mean missing an important meeting at the office.

The good news is that there are two laws on the books that can ease the stress that accompanies these tough choices for employed caregivers in Boston and throughout Massachusetts.

The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) gives employees of firms with 50 or more employees the right to take up to twelve weeks per year of unpaid leave for the care of a seriously ill family member.  On the books since 1992, this law includes a provision that prohibits employers from penalizing employees who use FMLA leave.  And FMLA leave may be taken in small increments, a few hours at a time – provided you request the leave in accord with the employer’s policies. The U.S. Department of Labor website provides information about who can take FMLA leave and under what circumstances. 

Less well known is Massachusetts’ Small Necessities Law. Enacted in 1998, it permits eligible employees to take up to 24 hours of leave within a 12-month period to attend a child’s school activity or accompany a child or elderly relative to a doctor’s appointment.  The leave available under this benefit is in addition to the 12 weeks of leave provided for under the FMLA. And the 24 hours may be taken on an intermittent (i.e. 2 hours to attend a parent-teacher conference) or reduced-time schedule.

We may not be able to stretch the number of hours in a day.  But it’s good to know that we have the right to take needed time off for those “small necessities” that can mean so much to family health and harmony.