Chapter Summary
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is the principal federal law affecting the provision of leave for parental
and medical reasons.However, the law does
not and cannot mandate inclusive organizations that
genuinely respect and value diverse people.Transsexuals
might now receive protection under Title VII by arguing that, under the theory of sex-stereotyping, discrimination against them is due to their nonconformance
with established gender definitions.The FMLA entitles employees to up
to a total of twelve weeks of leave over a twelve-month
period, maintenance of health insurance benefits during
leave, and restoration from leave to the same position
held prior to leave or an equivalent position.The creation of
such laws is a politically charged issue and has spawned
campaigns aimed at preventing their passage.Any protection for private sector
employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation comes under state and city laws.The
Supreme Court has ruled against one such effort, but
the limits are not yet clearly defined.Employers are confronted with many questions of
how best to deal with differences.Some of these are
matters of employment law.It's up to
employers and employees to do this.