#TBT: Bill Clinton Creates Parental, Sick Leave

     On February 5th, 1993, Bill Clinton secured a major victory for his first-term domestic agenda with the signing of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. Vetoed by President Bush numerous times, the law instituted 12 weeks of unpaid leave for serious illness, the illness of a relative, or care for a new child. The law only applied to employers with more than 50 employees.

 

     However, the law has been expanded by states to include smaller companies. A major tenet of the Democratic Party has been expanding the law to include parental and other forms of leave, expanding the length of leave, and introducing paid leave. Although the primary impact of the FMLA has been in its effect on the Democratic Party platform, especially visible with the emergence of Bernie Sanders, it is still recognized as landmark legislation for the rights of workers.

     In attendance during the signing was Vicki Yandle, who was fired from her job as a receptionist after asking for a month off to care for her child, who had just been diagnosed with cancer.